Goals from Justin Noble, Jack Tarczycki and Callum Fowler were not enough for a share of the spoils for the Dynamos on Sunday evening as a Juraj Huska hat-trick and a double from Shaun Yardley secured Romford a 5-3 win in a bad tempered match-up in Essex.

The Dynamos made the trip to Romford minus the suspended Peter Vaisanen but they were in no mood to be brushed aside and they remained in contention at the close of the opening period as they trailed their hosts 2-1. The Raiders made a positive start on their own ice and as a roughing minor to Jack Tarczycki allowed Juraj Huska the space to slot home and break the deadlock on the powerplay but the Dynamos responded midway through when Tarczycki made amends by firing beyond Michael Gray. However, just when it looked like the visitors would return to the changing rooms on a level footing, a tripping penalty on Tim Smith gave Romford another spell with the extra man – the hosts firing in for the 2-1 edge. This time Shaun Yardley was the man to put the puck beyond David Wride whilst Danny Marshall and Frankie Harvey claimed the assists.

In the second period the Dynamos started the brighter and they netted twice in the opening six minutes to turn the tie on its head. Andy Smith and Justin Noble combined to tee up Callum Fowler for the leveller before Noble then added his name to the score sheet with a well taken finish beyond Michael Gray. Penalties would remain their undoing though and, five minutes from time, a boarding minor on Tyrone Miller gave Romford yet another powerplay – Shaun Yardley again taking advantage for his second of the night to make it 3-3. With the buzzer about to sound, Slovak Juraj Huska then gave the Raiders the lead as he too completed a brace. Ryan Giles and Mat Turner were involved in the build-up play before Huska shot beyond David Wride for the 4-3 edge.

Up until now a typically physical affair had sat largely within the confines of the game but tempers were to flare in the final frame in spectacular fashion. Neither team were able to add to their tallies in the first half of the period before the gloves then came off with Romford’s Billy Phillips and Invicta’s Nathaniel Rose coming to blows. The Dynamos forward started the bout the stronger but the Raiders blue liner finished well in a fairly even encounter before both combatants were then dispatched to the bench. Neither seemed done though and an altercation between Rose and off ice officials was followed by a slanging match with Phillips in the penalty box with neither skater backing down. Both were eventually dispatched from the game altogether but, on exiting the ice, Rose would pass by the home bench and Romford supporters leading to further confrontation. 2+2+5+Game was the penalties for both Rose and Phillips but a Tyrone Miller boarding call soon after gave the hosts a powerplay that they again used to their advantage for their fourth goal whilst a man up. Julian Smith teed up Juraj Huska who completed a 5-3 victory with his hat-trick completing third of the night.

So it was ultimately a defeat in Romford for the Dynamos on a night where hockey will unfortunately not be the main talking point. Man of the match awards went to ‘import’ Juraj Huska of the home side whilst David Wride took it for the visitors.

Picture supplied by David Trevallion.