It was a defeat in Bracknell for the Invicta Dynamos despite only being 2-1 behind at one point in the third period.
The Dynamos were without the services of Arran Strawson, Ryan Giles and Callum Best leaving them with only 12 skaters. With netminder Adam Long leaving the club during the week Conor Morris was the only netminder on the game sheet for the Kent side.
Morris was kept busy during the first period and was called into action within 40 seconds and did well to smother the puck before an onrush of Bees’ players took advantage of the puck being placed in a good position in front of the Invicta’ net. Brendan Baird was next to test the Mos’ netminder and once his shot went through a cluster of players Morris did well to tip the puck into the air and eventually knock it away from any danger. A further save by Morris on 4:23 kept out Roman Malinik but the Bees import was soon turning provider for the opening Bees’ goal – scored on 5:52 through Aidan Doughty after Malinik found Zak Milton in space who saw his shot tipped by Doughty into the net for 1-0.
On 7:30 Ryan Watt should have doubled the lead when he was left at point-blank range in front of Morris but the Dynamos’ netminder calmly killed the puck. The first powerplay of the game fell the way of the hosts on 9:51 when Andy Munroe slashed at an opponent but the Mos stood firm for two minutes and were succesful in returning to full strength without conceading. Another Bees powerplay in the 14th minute was effectively executed after Jake Stedman had been adjudged to have hooked a Bees’ attacker. The Bees then went on the rattle the goal frame before eventually doubling their goal tally to 2-0 on 18:39 through Stuart Mogg with the Mos on the penalty kill following a Matt Foord hooking offence.
The second period was a much tighter affair – it brought no goals but the Dynamos did have Conor Morris to thank on a few occasions. However, it was the Mos who put the first significant attempt on goal during the frame – Ondrej Zosiak with a driven shot at goal through a cluster of bodies before seeing the puck deflected wide. The Bees then had a goal disallowed on 24:54 after one of their forwards kicked the puck into the back of the net. Matt Foord went on to have two shots at Bees netminder Danny Milton – both comfortably saved. Morris was then in the thick of the action, denying James Galazzi on 27:33 and Ryan Watt with 29:07 on the clock. Just as the game’s halfway point was reached David Millner rattled the Dynamos’ goal post before Louis Colvin then registered another Mos shot on taget at the opposite end of the ice pad. The Mos were placed on another penalty kill with Harrison Lillis guilty of hooking and despite heavy pressure in the Mos’ zone the Bees were unable to capitalise with the score remaining 2-0 at the end of the period.
The final period produced goals and the Mos were on the scoresheet on 42:36 – Ryan Morgan playing the puck to Matt Foord out of defence with the experienced Foord, still remarkably playing with a broken foot manged to find Anthony Leone surging forward with the Mos’ captain making no mistake dispatching the puck past Milton for 2-1. A long delay then took part due to a technical problem with the scoreboard and not long after the game resumed the Bees edged two goals in front once more with Roman Malinik making the most of an Andy Munroe mistake to make it 3-1 on 44:50.
The Mos then had a couple of powerplays with Zack Milton (holding on 46:57) and Scott Spearing (hooking on 49:58) both providing the Mos opportunities to make the most of their extra man advantage but despite getting a few shots on goal the Mos couldn’t get a goal back. The Bees then went up a gear and scored through Billy Paynter on 52:31 and Roman Malinik on 53:57 to finish the night 5-1 victors.
Referee: Thompson Linesmen: Lack, Campbell
Points:
Bees: J. Galazzi 0+1, A. Doughty 1+1, B. Paynter 1+0, I. Antonov 0+1, Z. Milton 0+1, R. Malinik 2+2, H. Stead 0+1, P. Mogg 1+0
Dynamos: R. Morgan 0+1, M. Foord 0+1, A. Leone 1+0
Netminders:
- Milton save percentage – 96.00% (25 shots/1 goal)
- Morris save percentage – 86.84% (38 shots/5 goals)
PIMS:
Bees – 6
Dynamos – 8
Man of the match:
Bees – R. Malinik
Dynamos – M. Foord
Picture supplied by Nicola Allen.