The 2011/12 season has reached an end for the Invicta Dynamos as they slipped to a 7-3 loss at the hands of the Romford Raiders in the second leg of their ENIHL South Playoff Semi-final in Essex on Sunday to exit the competition 13-7 on aggregate despite a spirited performance.

Coming into the tie 6-4 down from the night before, the Dynamos needed to make a positive start at Rom Valley Way and they commanded the opening frame as they outshot their opponents by 21 to 9.

The breakthrough inevitably came in the seventh minute when a fortuitous deflection off of referee Blaine Evans allowed Jack Tarczycki to claim possession against the left boards and he picked out Justin Noble bearing down on the target – the Canadian shifting onto his backhand to ground goalie Michael Gray and firing into the net for the 1-0 lead.

Despite a string of opportunities to then extend that edge the Dynamos were unable to beat the shot stopper for the remainder of the frame as Gray thwarted well placed one-timers from Noble, Ryan Ellis and Callum Fowler. So, without making their dominance show on the scoreboard, the visitors returned to the changing rooms one goal up on the night but 6-5 behind on aggregate.

The second period was a more even affair as the Raiders finally gained a grasp of the game but their equaliser six minutes in was harsh on the Dynamos – not least because the puck failed to cross the line. Matt Turner’s drive from the right flew over the glove of Andy Moffat and rebounded down off of the post leading to a goalmouth scramble.

However, as both teams battled for possession in front of net, referee Blaine Evans blew his whistle and awarded a strike to Turner to give the hosts a controversial leveller. The Dynamos were undeterred though and, when play restarted, they retook the lead on the powerplay to make it 2-1 on the night.

Whilst Billy Phillips sat a roughing minor, Tim Smith went on a surging forward skate that ended with a searching pass across the crease – captain Andy Smith in the right place to convert on the back stick for his 400th goal for the club. Penalties on both sides then saw a spell of 4-on-4 and it was the hosts who initially made better use of the extra space as they netted their second to restore parity.

Romford’s Billy Phillips crossed the blue line on the left side and arrowed a slapshot low towards the bottom far corner of the net which, though Andy Moffat made contact with his left glove, slipped over the line for 2-2.

However, less than a minute later, the Dynamos were ahead once more as Justin Noble’s centring pass from the right circle picked out Callum Best and the former Slough skater dispatched beyond Michael Gray before the goalie had chance to react. Best’s one-timer made it 3-2 to the visitors on the night but they would still trail 8-7 on aggregate going into the last.

In the final frame it seemed it all was still to play for but the Raiders tallied a telling goal just eight seconds after the restart for an overall two goal cushion. Shaun Yardley’s blue line drive from deep right found the pads of Andy Moffat but then dropped to Juraj Huska close left – the Slovak sniper comfortably dispatching the easiest of chances for 3-3.

The Dynamos then almost retook the lead as Justin Noble escaped his marker on the left side before darting to net but his wrist effort to the far post found the upright to the relief of goalie Michael Gray. It was to prove an important moment of misfortune as Romford tallied on their next attack to go ahead 4-3 on the night – 10-7 on aggregate.

Anthony Leone initially waved his stick at an inviting pass across the crease but the Raiders’ captain gathered possession on the right side and fired to AJ Smith who poked in from right in front for a crucial strike.

Midway through, the tie was then all but over when Juraj Huska escaped on a counter down the left channel and the Slovak coolly lifted over the shoulder of Andy Moffat for 5-3 – a score that gave them a cushion of four on aggregate. Despite Grant Taylor finding his way to the box on a slashing minor, that advantage would only increase as a now deflated Dynamos’ rear guard allowed a searching Huska pass from deep right in his own zone to send Billy Phillips in all alone on the left, and the Romford ‘d-man’ arrowed low across the net for 6-3.

With time winding down, visiting agitator Corey Watkins then became the centre of attention as he sticked the pads of netminder Michael Gray after the whistle leading to him being jumped by three Raiders’ skaters keen on retribution.

Watkins was dispatched from the tie on a spearing major and, soon after, a miserable third period for the Dynamos was all but completed eleven seconds from time when Billy Phillips sealed his hat-trick for the hosts. A spell in the final third saw the puck break back to the blue liner and he rifled in from deep to complete a 7-3 victory for Romford – a 13-7 aggregate win that put them through to the final.

So it was a defeat for the Dynamos but the final score was perhaps a little flattering for Romford whose future in the playoffs remained in doubt until the last period of the second leg. The visitors had dominated early on and ultimately were made to pay the price for not converting when on top and now find their 2011/12 campaign at an end.

Nevertheless it was a valiant effort from Head Coach Kevin Parrish’s side who enjoyed the very vocal support of the swathe of travellers who had journeyed from Kent and were a credit to the team. Man of the match awards on the night went to Andy Moffat of the Dynamos whilst hat-trick hero Billy Phillips took the honours for the Raiders.