Junior Raiders v Invicta Dynamos

Match report

The Invicta Dynamos endured a rough night in Romford on Saturday evening as a shortbenched side were comfortably dispatched 8-3 by the young Raiders.

Covid issues, injuries and suspensions left the Mos with just 13 players – 11 skaters and 2 goalies.

In the opening frame the Dynamos broke the deadlock perhaps giving false hope given what was to come – at 03.35 Billy Phillips carried the play down the right before teeing up Ashley Jackson for the simple back post finish that made it 1-0. A slashing minor on Juraj Huska allowed the hosts a spell with the extra man and they made it count at 16.23 – Thomas Wilson’s blue line shot through traffic slipping through the pads of an unsighted Ben Clements. The Raiders then had the lead at 17.47 – a scramble in the crease ending as Samuel Robinson bundled in to make it 2-1. The Mos were incensed by the goal given a defenceman had been pushed into Clements taking him out of the action but the referee allowed the goal to stand.

In the second frame it began to fall apart for the Mos who were repeatedly hit with penalty trouble. Henry Aiken, Juraj Huska and Anthony Leone were all in the box at the same time allowing James Hounsome the space to fire in from the left circle at 25.05. The Mos then hit back shorthanded at 25.58 – Huska speeding down the left channel before setting up Ashley Jackson for another back post finish that cut the deficit to one. However just a minute later they conceded on the still ongoing powerplay – a Luca Pascale shot from the back of the left circle deflecting en route leaving Ben Clements helpless and the score at 4-2 come 26.19.

Luca Pascale had a second at 31.58 – a neat backhand pass across the crease by Kaloyan Popov setting up his teammate for a tap in at the back post that put the Raiders 5-2 to the good. The Mos cut that deficit to 5-3 at 34.01 – a neat interchange of passing coming to an end as Juraj Huska’s diagonal was turned beyond goalie Daniel Milton by Anthony Leone right in front – but it would not prove to be a route back into the tie as the hosts added two more before the break. At 34.42 Harvey Briggs slammed a slapshot home from the inside edge of the left circle and at 38.07 Briggs added another – this time sweeping home from close left after work from Vilius Krakauskas.

7-3 down going into the last the shortbenched Mos had it all to do but frustration quickly got the better of them and a loss of discipline saw a constant conga line to the penalty box that left them unable to hit back. In the final frame Anthony Leone, Harrison Lillis, Richard Harris, Billy Phillips and Mason Webster each picked up penalties that saw the visitors have to fight to kill numerous 5-on3s. Billy Phillips left the game at 50.04 with two for incitement, two for roughing and a ten minute misconduct before Webster was sent packing for fighting at 52.26 and Lillis was given a major for elbows at 57.44.

Somehow the Mos only conceded one more – at 57.44 the puck came from behind the net to Elliot Dervish in front and he beat Ben Clements to settle the tie at 8-3.

So a disappointing night for the Dynamos who already faced an uphill battle but were somewhat guilty of making it worse for themselves with 46 minutes of penalties compared to the Raiders’ 6. It was a deserved win for the hosts with the Mos sent home ahead of what looked set to be another tough meeting with Streatham the following night.