Match Report
Invicta Dynamos 3 v 5 Slough Jets
Challenge Cup, Sunday 5th October
The Invicta Dynamos welcomed reigning league champions Slough Jets to Gillingham for their first clash of the season, a Challenge Cup showdown with both sides hungry for their first win in the competition. The Jets travelled with a 21-man roster, while the Dynamos iced 17. Referee McCracken officiated the game, supported on the lines by Munroe and Edwards. Starting netminders were Matt Smital for the Jets and Brad Windebank for the Dynamos.
Period 1
The opening minutes were cagey, with both teams testing the waters and struggling to generate clean offence. The Dynamos began to apply pressure, with Connolly forcing a turnover that led to Ranson striking the outside of the post. Pywell followed up with a chance of his own, but Smital stood firm.
The first penalty of the night came at 9:01, with Gatenby called for holding. The Jets couldn’t convert, but at 12:22 Worthy was penalised for hooking, and this time Slough capitalised. At 13:20, Lindgren fired a shot from the blue line past a screened Windebank, assisted by C. Mohr.
Thune and Pascale threatened for the Dynamos, while Windebank made key saves to keep the deficit at one. The period ended with the Jets holding a narrow 1–0 lead.
Period 2
Both teams raised the tempo in the second, trading chances early through Prentice, Ranson, and Lindgren. At 23:14, Gatenby and L. Smital were assessed matching roughing minors, but play remained 5-on-5.
Moments later, Thune broke free on a Dynamos counterattack and coolly rounded Smital to level the score at 1–1, with assists from Prentice and Pascale.
The Jets responded quickly. At 28:04, Soper restored their lead, assisted by Cole and Bradburn. A roughing penalty to Bradburn at 28:21 gave the Dynamos a powerplay, but despite sustained pressure, they couldn’t convert.
Further roughing penalties to Smith and English at 34:20 kept tensions high, but neither side found the net again before the buzzer. The Jets led 2–1 heading into the third.
Period 3
The Dynamos came out firing in the final frame. At 42:10, Cole was penalised for interference, and just 48 seconds into the powerplay, Gatenby blasted home from the blue line, Bronnimann and Connolly providing the setup.
Momentum surged, and just 35 seconds later, Thune struck again through traffic, assisted by Tombs, giving the Dynamos a 3–2 lead.
Penalties continued to shape the game. Ranson was called for charging at 44:19, followed by a hooking call on L. Smital at 45:22, creating a brief 4-on-4. S. Mohr nearly equalised, but Windebank made a stellar save.
At 48:10, S. Mohr broke free and tied the game 3–3, assisted by Lindgren and Mitchell. The Jets pressed hard, pinning the Dynamos deep. Smith was called for tripping at 53:38, and though the penalty was killed, a holding call on Gatenby at 55:48 proved costly. L. Smital scored unassisted at 56:57 to make it 4–3.
Both teams took timeouts, and the Dynamos pulled Windebank for the extra player on the ice. With a 6-on-4 advantage following Mitchell’s slashing penalty at 59:30, the stage was set but it was the Jets who sealed the win. Hemmings-Maher found the empty net at 59:48 to close out a 5–3 victory.
A spirited performance from the Dynamos, who battled toe-to-toe with the defending champions right to the final buzzer. Every player gave a strong account of themselves in a game full of grit, momentum swings, and notable highlights.
Man of the Match:
- Slough Jets – Lindgren
- Invicta Dynamos – Thune (2 goals)
Written by Jon Akers