Invicta Dynamos v Streatham IHC

Invicta Dynamos TV

Match report

The Invicta Dynamos pushed league leaders Streatham to the wire on Sunday but ultimately goals from Juraj Huska, Brandon Webster, Ashley Jackson and Tom Davis were not enough to prevent a 6-4 league defeat at the hands of the Redhawks in the league.

The Mos came into the game with 14 players whilst Streatham brought a roster of 17. Ben Clements started in net for the hosts with Tom Annetts his opposite number at the other end.

In the opening frame both sides had early chances – Ivan Antonov calling Ben Clements into action twice with a shot from the right circle and another from the slot before Tom Annetts then denied Anthony Leone’s goal bound poke following a diagonal from Juraj Huska at the other end of the ice. The breakthrough would come at 08.56 – the Mos first on the board as Tom Davis cleared the puck which was then missed by the last Streatham defenceman allowing Huska in behind. The Slovak demonstrated his vast experience by beating Annetts with a cool stick shift before flicking over the line on the backhand.

The goal only seemed to add a sense of urgency to the visitors and they quickly responded with two of their own to turn the tie. The first of the pair came at 09.43 – a 2-on-1 coming to an end as Ryan Watt teed up Danny Ingoldsby at the far post who finished well to tie the game. The second followed just 25 seconds later at 10.08 – Ivan Antonov playing the puck to the crease where Ben Paynter bundled in from point blank range.

The Mos attempted to respond but Ashley Jackson was unable to connect with Tomas Banovsky’s teasing pass to the back post before Richard Harris sent a shot just wide from right in front after a centring pass from Anthony Leone. They were made to pay for their misses at 14.41 – Streatham adding a third as Conner Smith broke down the left wing on another 2-on-1 and he chose to shoot instead of pass sending a wicked wrist shot beyond Ben Clements for 3-2.

In the second period Tom Annetts made a big early save to stop Richard Harris forcing in a rebound with a neat flick on the edge of the crease before, down the other end, Ben Clements was equally adept with a flashy glove save to rob Danny Ingodbsy who had looked certain to score with the goalie initially stranded at the other side of his crease. The sides continued to trade chances throughout the frame – Tom Davis found with time and space in the high slot but unable to fire beyond the netminder and Clements called upon to deny quick doubles form both Ingoldsby and Scott Bailey.

Just as Streatham were starting to dominate, the Mos hit back at 36.02 – after a lengthy suspension that has seen him miss almost two months of hockey, Brandon Webster marked his return with a slapshot beyond Annetts from the back of the left circle that cut the deficit to 3-2. Immediately after brother Mason Webster then set Tomas Banovsky clear but Tom Annetts denied the Slovak from close left.

With the period almost over, chaos then ensued at 38.49 – a goalmouth scramble turning violent as Michael Farn lashed out with a cross check to the head of Karl Lennon that inevitably drew a reaction. Mason Webster went straight at Farn prompting Ryan Watt to skate in and seemingly spear the forward before then landing punches on an already engaged Webster and then Anthony Leone. At the same time Harrison Lillis and Ben Paynter paired off for a wrestle that saw Lillis push his opponent to the ice before they stood again and exchanged blows with Lillis winning the bout for a second time. Off the ice a watching Brandon Miles almost engaged with a supporter but stewards intervened keeping both apart to stop matters getting too farcical. When the penalties were dished out Farn was incredibly fortunate to receive just two for cross checking and Watt was not penalised at all for the apparent spearing attempt. Watt, Paynter, Lillis and Webster each received 5 for fighting. This however was an incident almost certain to be reviewed at a later time by the EIHA.

In the final period Streatham struck at 43.23 to dampen hopes of a Mos comeback – a blue line shot from a Michael Farn who was perhaps fortunate to still be in the game was redirected en route by Conner Smith leaving Ben Clements no chance and making it 4-2. The hosts continued to battle though and they hit back at 48.34 – Tom Davis finding Ashley Jackson with a diagonal from the right boards and Jackson roofing over the shoulder of Tom Annetts from the left circle to cut the deficit to 4-3.

As expected Streatham were enjoying the greater number of chances but ben Clements was in formidable form and frequently frustrating the visitors – Ryan Watt seeing a stinging blue line shot blocked and Danny Ingoldsby’s immediate follow up also denied. He would be beaten at 52.01 though – Watt, another perhaps fortunate to still be on the ice, with a great solo goal as he flew down the left channel and across the crease before tucking over the netminder whilst on the fall for 5-3.

To their credit the Dynamos continued to plug away and at 58.47 they setup a tense finale – Juraj Huska picking out Tom Davis close right and he sent the puck high into the top near corner with a well placed finish to make it 5-4. With just a minute to go the hosts then rolled the dice and pulled netminder Ben Clements but the high risk strategy failed to pay off this time – Watt poking the puck free on his own blue line and having the easy task of finding the unguarded net which he chose to do with a slapshot from two yards for 6-4 at 59.55.

So it was a 6-4 victory for Streatham but the visitors had evidently been riled and had definitely not had it all their own way against a Mos team struggling for numbers and form. For the hosts it was a performance full of effort and heart and one that would likely secure points against other opponents if repeated in the coming weeks. Much of the talk though will focus on the furore near the close of the second period with all eyes now on the EIHA as to whether any further action is to follow.