Invicta Dynamos v Slough Jets

Invicta Dynamos TV

Match report

The Invicta Dynamos slumped to a emphatic 10-0 home thumping at the hands of the Slough Jets on Sunday as a side short on bodies also appeared short on energy and was dominated from start to finish by the league’s second placed team.

The Mos were able to ice a squad of just fourteen with Ashley Jackson and Karl Lennon additional absentees from the night before but Billy Phillips making a return. The visitors brought a roster of 20. Brett Shepherd started in goal for the Jets with Ben Clements in place for the Mos.

Straight from the off the home side were on the back foot and they conceded the first of the night at 01.38 – the rear guard putting up no resistance as Daniel Rose skipped through the middle before firing over the shoulder of the netminder to make it 1-0. And it was 2-0 as soon as 02.57 – the Mos overcommitting allowing the Jets to counter quickly and Luke Smital to send a wrist shot low into the far corner from close right.

Down the other end Brandon Webster gave Brett Shepherd his first real test of the night with a slapshot from the left circle but it was merely brief restbite before Slough went on the attack once more. At 09.55 the visitors made it 3-0 – Luke Smital claiming his second as he skated up the ice with ease before drilling a shot beyond Ben Clements. That lead became 4-0 at 11.45 – a blue line shot through traffic by Conor Redmond not even seen by Clements who was unable to get near it.

Invicta had barely moved from the starting blocks and player-coach Anthony Leone tried to get them going as he ditched the gloves with Luke Smital after the pair had exchanged shoves in the corner but it was a brief fight with the Mos man hitting the ice first after a quick slip. Afterwards the Jets then carried on where they had left off by adding a fifth before the break – Harry Corkum finding Christian Mohr in front who turned in at point blank range for 5-0.

After an awful first period the Dynamos had an early chance to cut into the sizeable deficit early in the second as the Jets gave up a 5-on-3 powerplay but the hosts were unable to make the most of it and remained five behind. On returning to full strength, Slough then continued to pile on the misery. At 28.55 – Harry Corkum’s effort from close right was blocked by the brave dive of Henry Aiken but he dispatched the second attempt into the roof of the net for 6-0. This marked the end of the night for Ben Clements who was replace by Owen Rider but he was then beaten at 30.41 – Corkum grabbing an assist this time as he chased a loose puck into the corner before flicking to the crease where Luke Smital steered around the goalie to complete his hat-trick.

At 32.38 tempers flared briefly – Liam Clark propelling Juraj Huska into the boards from behind resulting in the players coming together. Billy Phillips decided he wanted a piece of Christian Mohr and began throwing punches as the officials tried to keep the pair apart and Mohr showed no interest in a bout. Clark was given 2 for boarding and Phillips 2+2 for roughing though he was walking a tightrope given recent lengthy penalties for players fighting unwilling opponents.

When the action restarted the Jets added two more before the buzzer. The first of these came at 34.38 – a bit of tic-tac-toe ending with Rose dispatching beyond Owen Rider from right in front to make it 8-0. The ninth followed right on the buzzer as the puck dropped to Harry Harcup right in front who quickly guided around the forlorn netminder for the last of the period.

In the final frame Joe Allen was denied a breakaway goal by Brett Shepherd before the visitors put away the last of the night to reach double figures. At 44.57 Christian Mohr skated the length of the ice with sickening ease before rifling beyond Owen Rider from prime shooting territory between the circles for 10-0. The strike saw the Jets ease off for the remainder of the game with the Mos seemingly unable to trouble them at the other end. Richard Harris did strike the bar from close left before the visitors took the opportunity to switch Brett Shepherd for debutant teenage goalie Ruari McGibbon. McGibbon was called upon once before the game was out but made a save to mark his first outing.

All that remained was for one final flare – Brandon Webster jumping into a hit on Hariyan Ross that sent the Slough man sprawling to angry cries from the Jets bench. It was a hit that looked untidy but Webster received 2 for charging in a call that looked correct.

So it was an embarrassing defeat for the Dynamos who were outplayed from puck drop to final buzzer. It might have been the combination of a short bench and tired bodies from their exploits in Milton Keynes the night before but the hosts were well below par in every department. From here the team go into a two week break that will hopefully see some injured players return and some greater focus in training before a return to action on 20th March.