The Invicta Dynamos slipped to a 9-3 defeat in their final outing of 2011 as a squad, light on numbers following suspensions from the debacle with Cardiff on home ice the night before, were overpowered by the Romford Raiders in Essex on Sunday evening.

The visitors endured a miserable first period that saw the home side dominate and boss their way to a commanding 5-0 edge come the first break. The Raiders opened their account in the fifth minute as Julian Smith fired in beyond Andy Moffat and they had a two goal cushion moments later when Shaun Yardley also found the target.

A powerplay strike from player/coach Danny Marshall then gave them a third, Slovak sniper Juraj Huska tallied their fourth and Shaun Wallis completed the scoring in the first to effectively put Romford out of sight. In the second frame the Dynamos then began a mini-fightback that saw them net twice over the twenty minutes to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Defenceman Adam Copland took advantage of a powerplay to get the visitors off of the mark and youngster Harrison Lillis scored his first senior goal for the side to put the team within three heading into the last.

The two teams then traded efforts briefly at the beginning of the final frame, with Matt Turner extending Romford’s lead only for Canadian Justin Noble to answer for the Dynamos, before the hosts pulled well out of sight as the clock began to wind down. Anthony Leone gave the home fans a 7-3 lead to celebrate, player/coach Danny Marshall added an eighth and Matt Turner claimed his second to complete the 9-3 win.

So 2011 ended it defeat for the Dynamos who saw their chances at Rom Valley Way majorly hampered as a result of the much publicised on-goings on home ice against the Cardiff ENL Devils the night before. Man of the match awards on the night went to Harrison Lillis of the travelling side, whose first senior strike was a highlight of an otherwise tricky road trip, whilst netminder Glen Jackson took it for the formidable Raiders.

From here the Dynamos now enjoy a three week break, with Christmas and New Year falling on weekends, and will next take to the ice on Saturday 7th January against the Wightlink Raiders at the Ryde arena before a home clash with the Milton Keynes Thunder the following evening.