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The Dynamos hosted their longtime rivals, the Streatham Redhawks, at Gillingham for an exciting league showdown. Eager to avenge their loss from the previous evening, the Redhawks arrived with a 19-man roster, while the Dynamos, despite having a slightly larger squad than the night before when they battled valiantly with just 13 on the ice, had 15 for this game. The officiating crew consisted of referee Evans, assisted by Hill and Myrsikov. Starting netminders for the evening were Shepherd for the Redhawks and Windebank for the Dynamos. As both teams took to the ice and lined up for the puck drop, the stage was set for an intense contest.
Period 1
Period 1 began with the Dynamos eager to carry forward the momentum from the previous evening, while the Redhawks aimed to take an early lead. The opening minutes were fast-paced and somewhat chaotic, with neither team able to break through the strong defensive lines. As the game settled into a rhythm, the Redhawks began to dominate possession and territory, launching shots from Lack, Ingoldsby, and Dix – each well saved by Windebank. The Dynamos responded with a promising chance from Heath, but Shepherd stood tall to keep the game level.
The period saw the Redhawks frequently camping in the Dynamos’ defensive zone, but stout defending kept most shots to the periphery, causing little trouble for Windebank. Meanwhile, the Dynamos tried to absorb the pressure and launch quick counterattacks, creating opportunities for Ranson and Pascale that briefly relieved the defensive strain. As the period drew to a close, a few niggling altercations nearly sparked a brawl, but no penalties were awarded. The first period ended scoreless at 0-0, setting the stage for an exciting continuation.
Period 2
Period 2 began much like the first, with the Redhawks dominating possession but failing to create any clear-cut chances that troubled Windebank in the Dynamos’ net. The Dynamos came closest to breaking the deadlock when Connolly found himself alone in front of Shepherd; his shot was expertly saved, keeping the game scoreless.
At 26:18, the Redhawks finally opened the scoring. A shot from the blue line was deflected in front of Windebank, and Ingoldsby was there to redirect it past the goaltender, with assists credited to Rose and Watt. Just over two minutes later, at 28:14, the Redhawks were awarded their first penalty of the night when Dix was called for slashing, earning a two-minute penalty. The Dynamos couldn’t capitalise on the power play, and the penalty was successfully killed. Shortly afterward, Lack’s shot hit the post for the Redhawks, keeping the score at 1-0.
The remainder of the period saw the Redhawks maintain pressure, but resolute defending and stellar shot-stopping by Windebank kept the Dynamos in the game. As the buzzer sounded, the score remained 1-0 in favour of the visitors.
Period 3
The third period saw the Redhawks looking to extend their lead, while the Dynamos mounted one final push to tie the game. A promising opportunity for Thune, created through some skilful work from Pascale, went just wide, keeping the game within reach. As the period progressed, the Redhawks appeared content to play it safe, focusing on preventing any Dynamos attacks and managing the clock.
A golden chance for Lack to seal the victory arose, but he was unable to get a shot away, failing to trouble Windebank. The Dynamos then launched their most spirited spell of the period, with shots from Pascale and Connolly that Shepherd brilliantly turned aside. At the other end, Ingoldsby came close when his shot ricocheted off the bar, nearly tying the game.
With time running out, the Dynamos called a late timeout at 59:10 in an attempt to force an equaliser. Windebank was pulled from the net, and the puck found Lack in the defensive zone. His shot from there slid into the empty net at 59:51, sealing a 2-0 victory for the Redhawks.
Despite the loss, the Dynamos put up a fierce fight, frustrating the Redhawks at times. Exhaustion from their recent win in Streatham was evident, but they battled hard throughout. Securing three points over the weekend was a significant achievement, especially considering the number of players missing.
Man of the Match for the Redhawks was Bradley and, once again, Windebank delivered a brilliant display in goal for the Dynamos, earning well-deserved recognition for his exceptional contribution.
Written by Jon Akers
Photos JD Photography
Highlights Editing Freya McCune