It’s a mountain to climb for the Invicta Dynamos after losing the first leg of the play-off semi-final at Wightlink Raiders.
The Dynamos roster was without the services of both Wootton twins, Damien Welch and Jack Lee.
Callum Fowler gave the away side the perfect start after only 40 seconds when Eriks Ozollapa found the speedy forward unmarked in which Fowler stroked the puck past Colclough for one nil.
Fowler almost doubled the lead a few minutes later but when Nicky Lewis found him, his shot was deflected into the roof of the arena.
Invicta carried on applying pressure and really should have scored when Arran Strawson carried the puck out of defence before hitting a cutting pass to Ozollapa but the Latvian pulled the puck too wide of Colclough to enable him to convert a second goal.
The duo combined yet again two minutes later, this time Ozollapa seeing a backhand flick saved.
Ryan Webb went close for Wightlink midway through the first period when he screwed his shot wide – but got better luck in the 17th minute with a deflected shot past King for the equaliser.
The second period almost had Jordan Gregory edge the Raiders in front but Damien King was alert to deny him.
Wightlink looked to have had a game plan to take out Callum Fowler from the game. Corey Watkins twice had penalties for incidents with the Invicta forward, once for roughing and when he returned straight to the ice another one for hooking.
Whilst on a 4 on 4 on the ice the Raiders edged in front through Brendan Baird for 2-1 on 24:49.
It all kicked off the on the ice seconds later, Callum Fowler taken out by Nick Compton which left the forward playing no further part.
Arran Strawson stepped in to defend his team mate and as he approached Compton, Corey Watkins took Strawson from the side and grounded the Dynamo whilst continuing to throw punches with him on the ground.
Watkins ended up being thrown out the game – but still found time to taunt the away fans as he left the ice.
Penalty after penalty followed as both teams competed in a feisty period. Wightlink increased the lead further to 3-1 on 31:40 through Rob Streetly.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Dynamos with chances for Osman and Ozollapa but neither could grab a goal back before the buzzer ended the period.
It was a third period to forget for the Dynamos. Bradley Gutridge missed a chance that was easier to hit on target than wide, but the forward did the latter.
That miss was punished moments later as Wightlink, who were shorthanded, notched a further goal ahead. Alex Sampford eased past Harrison Lillis to make it 4-1 on 46:49.
The Dynamos kept the Raiders at bay for 6 more minutes but 3 more goals by Cesky, Rose and Tribe increased the lead to 7-1.
A late consolation goal by Adam McNicoll gives the Dynamos a glimmer of hope for the second leg but at 7-2 they will now have to turn on the performance of the season to reach the final.
Pictures supplied by Nicola Allen.