Andy Smith marked his return to the side with a two goals on Saturday night as his efforts, alongside strikes from Nicky Lewis, Anthony Leone, Callum Fowler and Frankie Harvey, secured a 6-1 win for the Dynamos against the London Raiders in the NIHL South Division 1.
Having seen their number reduced to just 13 the week before, the Dynamos travelled to Lee Valley much nearer full strength with Charlie Phillips, Andy Smith, Juraj Huska and Steve Osman all returning from injury or illness. The added depth was to prove invaluable as the Mos enjoyed the better of the opening frame and tested shot stopper George Alley a total of 15 times with his opposite number Mark Lee being troubled on just 8 occasions. Despite being the busier of the netminders, Alley was in good form and it took until 09.40 for him to be beaten – Callum Fowler holding the play behind the net before teeing up Andy Smith for the prod home on the edge of the crease for 1-0. The Raiders responded almost instantly though – former Dynamo Liam Chong demonstrating why he has spent the last few seasons in the EPL by skating clear and lashing beyond Mark Lee to tie it up at 1-1 at 12.25. Neither team could then add to their tallies during the remainder of the frame resulting in a stalemate come the first intermission and leaving the hosts perhaps the happier of the sides with 20 minutes gone.
In the second period the Dynamos again created more scoring opportunities but George Alley was proving to be the cause of much frustration in the opposing net with a string of important saves. His defiance would eventually end at 27.47 – Juraj Huska testing the goalie with a stinging drive and Anthony Leone in the right place at the right time to convert the rebound and make it 2-1. Despite claiming the breakthrough the Mos were unable to find a third before the buzzer – Alley denying their other 14 attempts whilst Mark Lee thwarted 11 shots by the Raiders at the other end of the ice.
Just 2-1 up going into the last, it was in the closing moments of the final period that the Dynamos finally put the game to bed with four unanswered strikes killing off the Raiders. The first came at 48.14 – Andy Smith doubling up with a deft redirect right in front to leave George Alley no chance on a Billy Phillips slapshot from back on the blue line. At 56.23 it was then 4-1 – Adam McNicoll charging forward and centring for the on-rushing Nicky Lewis to split the London rear guard and dispatch beyond the reach of Alley for the 3 goal cushion. Despite the amount of time remaining rapidly decreasing, the Mos’ appetite for goals was only on the rise and they claimed another at 58.45 – Frankie Harvey the architect as he sent Callum Fowler through all alone and the prolific forward duly netted for the 5-1 edge. The final goal of the night then followed at 59.51 – Harvey not satisfied with just an assist and claiming a strike of his own seconds before the buzzer after a pinpoint pass from Billy Phillips.
So it was a convincing win in the end for the Dynamos who were short of their dynamic best but still had enough to overcome a Raiders side that is currently in transition. Man of the match awards went to the excellent Liam Chong of the hosts whilst Mark Lee took the spoils for the visitors having conceded just 1 of 26 attempts.