A pair from Canadian Ryan Ellis, alongside strikes from fellow countryman Justin Noble and blue liner Jack Tarczycki, were not enough to prevent the Invicta Dynamos slumping to a 7-4 road defeat at the hands of the Wightlink Raiders in their first fixture of 2012.

It was a slow start for the travelling side on the Isle of Wight following the faceoff and they were made to pay in the first period as the hosts built up a three goal lead. ‘Import’ Joe Rand had them ahead inside four minutes, Nathan Taylor doubled their edge soon after and prospect Conor Pollard claimed the third six minutes from the buzzer.

However, a late powerplay strike from Justin Noble ensured the Dynamos maintained an interest in the tie and sent them back to the dressing rooms trailing 3-1.

In the second frame the Raiders then restored their hefty advantage as Dominic Hopkins drilled beyond Andy Moffat and, though Ryan Ellis hit back for the visitors, the sizeable defenceman struck again for the home side for the 5-2 lead with forty minutes played.

Early in the final period the Dynamos then quickly cut into the deficit when Ryan Ellis doubled his personal tally for the evening but Nathan Taylor’s second for the hosts cancelled out his strike. Having got them going, Joe Rand then brought the Raiders’ scoring to a close when he beat Andy Moffat for his own double but it was Jack Tarczycki who netted the last on the night as he claimed what would prove to be a consolation for the visitors.

So it was defeat for the Dynamos on their second trip to the Isle of Wight this season as the home side made better use of the smaller ice pad and proved more clinical in front of net. Man of the match awards went to Nathan Taylor of the Raiders whilst first liner Daniel Fudger took the honours for the visitors. From here the Dynamos returned to home ice the following day where they would face the Milton Keynes Thunder.

Picture by David Trevallion