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Invicta Dynamos beat Chelmsford Chieftains 8-3 in Gillingham a day after 10-3 loss to Streatham in NIHL South Division 1

Invicta Dynamos completed a clean sweep against the Chelmsford Chieftains in the league on Sunday.

An 8-3 home success make it four wins from four for the Mos against a side who they will come up against in the final of Southern Cup at the end of next month (March 25/26).

Invicta Dynamos' Michael Stokes in a tussle with Chelmsford Chieftains' Cameron Bartlett Picture: David Trevallion
Invicta Dynamos' Michael Stokes in a tussle with Chelmsford Chieftains' Cameron Bartlett Picture: David Trevallion

Coach Karl Lennon knows the mini-series win will have no bearing on the cup final but was happy with the confidence-booster ahead of a free weekend.

He said: “For us to get a clean sweep on them is fantastic, I’m really happy with that, it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t do the business against other teams but at least it gives you some confidence.

“Going into that final it will make no difference, they could show up and do the business. We take confidence from it but we don’t take complacency.”

Harry Blake scored first on Sunday at Planet Ice and although the Chiefs rallied with two of their own the Mos led 3-2 at the close of an end-to-end first period.

The Mos added another in the second period as things began to get heated. A lively third period, which included fights and confrontations, saw the Gillingham side take the win.

The gloves are off at Planet Ice as Invicta Dynamos take on Chelmsford Chieftains Picture: David Trevallion
The gloves are off at Planet Ice as Invicta Dynamos take on Chelmsford Chieftains Picture: David Trevallion
Aaran Strawson chats to the officials Picture: David Trevallion
Aaran Strawson chats to the officials Picture: David Trevallion
Invicta Dynamos' Taylor Chard and Chelmsford Chieftains' Grant Bartlett fight it out Picture: David Trevallion
Invicta Dynamos' Taylor Chard and Chelmsford Chieftains' Grant Bartlett fight it out Picture: David Trevallion
Match action between Invicta Dynamos v Chelmsford Chieftains Picture: David Trevallion (62729648)
Match action between Invicta Dynamos v Chelmsford Chieftains Picture: David Trevallion (62729648)

“It was quite a feisty game,” Lennon said. “We haven’t had scraps in our rink for a little while, which the fans enjoyed! It is something we have managed to avoid this season, which has been good, but this weekend seemed to be full of them but it happens in hockey. There had been a build-up of tension in that rivalry that has come across the last few months, playing against each other regularly, and it was somewhat inevitable.”

Sunday’s win followed a tough Saturday against the defending champions Streatham, beating the Mos 10-3. In contrast to the Invicta-Chieftains series, it’s three defeats from three so far for the Gillingham side against their London opponents.

“It was a tough Saturday and a better Sunday,” Lennon said. “I was happy with the reaction on Sunday and really happy with Saturday, it was just the last period really that cost us quite dearly, some ill-discipline and just their quality.

Tom Soar attempts an effort at goal for Invicta Dynamos Picture: David Trevallion
Tom Soar attempts an effort at goal for Invicta Dynamos Picture: David Trevallion

“They are a very good team, no question, it was our poor discipline, their good quality and really just a bit of a deviation away from the game plan that had been working really for the first two periods and we found ourselves conceding a flurry of goals in the third period, which was quite damaging.

“It was 10-3 in the end and that didn’t reflect the whole game but they are a high quality team and we caught the brunt of it when they get going.

“It was much better on Sunday and we had a point to prove. The guys came out with the best attitude and I couldn’t fault anyone, everybody put in a great shift and we kept them on the backfoot from the moment we dropped the puck and ultimately in the end we just had a little too much quality for them in the offensive zone.”

Match action between Invicta Dynamos v Chelmsford Chieftains Picture: David Trevallion (62729801)
Match action between Invicta Dynamos v Chelmsford Chieftains Picture: David Trevallion (62729801)
Invicta Dynamos made it four wins from four in the league against Chelmsford Chieftains Picture: David Trevallion
Invicta Dynamos made it four wins from four in the league against Chelmsford Chieftains Picture: David Trevallion

The Mos sit fourth in the NIHL South Division 1 table, behind Slough Jets on their head-to-head record. Both teams are level on points with Chelmsford three points further back.

There are just three games of the regular season remaining, with Invicta playing home to Streatham to finish (March 19). They host Solent Devils next Saturday (March 11) and travel to Oxford City Stars on Sunday, March 12.

It’s a free weekend coming up.

“That’s probably quite good for us as we’re carrying a few injuries, we have a few bumps and bruises after the weekend.”

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