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Invicta Dynamos’ head coach Karl Lennon felt the solitary point gained from two weekend battles was harsh.
The Mos’ point came after taking champions Streatham Redhawks into overtime before losing 1-0. They met fellow high-flyers Chelmsford Chieftains on Sunday and led before the visitors won 5-3.
Lennon said: “It was just frustrating because we went into the weekend with nobody expecting us to take anything.
“We’ve taken on a team that has been the best in this division for a long time, for the entire time, which was great.
“On Sunday we could have taken the three points, and we were good for that in two periods, but we came away with just one point for the weekend.
“It doesn't feel fair, honestly, on the reflection on how the boys played. It's just the little details that make the difference.”
First up for the Mos was a trip to Streatham which ended in a rare goalless draw.
Lennon said: “I think in all of the time I've played hockey, I include my junior career as well. I don't think I ever played in a game where it was 0-0! It was a weird scenario.
“We knew it was important to start well, because if we found ourselves behind early doors, they can build some real momentum in their place, with their fan base.
“We limited their scoring chances and had good ones ourselves but the period passed and it was 0-0, a good foundation to be built upon. The second period went the same way.
“There was nothing between the two sides.
“The third period comes along and you think: ‘Well, it's not going to finish 0-0’. I don't think there'd even been a penalty in the game up until the third period.
“We found ourselves immediately on a penalty but we saw that out and had a couple more chances.
“I think Oli Bronnimann hit the post and I know Aaron Connolly certainly hit the post with a great chance. We thought: ‘Okay, that was maybe the moment missed’ and they'll turn it on in that last few minutes but we just stayed so strong, so resolute in the last ten minutes of the game.
“It was a fantastic performance from the guys. They really put everything on the line and put the team ahead of themselves, which for me was really beautiful to see. Offensive-minded players really putting in a shift defensively and we got a little reward of a point away from home that probably wouldn't be expected.
“(Netminder) Brad Windebank was fantastic all weekend, especially Saturday where he was amazing.
“Going into the overtime period, having shut them out, we put a line-up out for the overtime, and I was quite happy with how we matched up against theirs.”
A moment of misfortune was to prove costly for the Mos, undoing all of their hard work, as James Laming’s stick broke as he went to close down play and he went off the ice. During the reshuffle the Mos were out of position and the Redhawks scored.
“It was super frustrating,” said the coach.
“We'd really matched them so well throughout the game, we'd done such a good job, then just a little misfortune cost us a bit of positional space and that was that.
“On reflection, a draw was a fair result. They wanted to make sure that they got points and we probably had a little less to lose so we could play in a certain way.
“We frustrated them for large spells, clogged areas of the ice where they like to play and they struggled to break through. Brad was absolutely phenomenal, making some great saves but he did a lot of the simple things really well too.”
The Mos went into Sunday’s home game confident of picking up a win, despite missing captain and leading points scorer Aaron Connolly to a hand injury, but conceded after just 80 seconds.
Harrison Lillis levelled it up and Lennon’s men then took the initiative.
Brandon Chard and Regan O’Neil scored in the second period inbetween one for the Chiefs to lead 3-2 heading into the final period.
“We were the better team for the first two periods,” said the coach.
“They went one up very early after we made a poor decision on the ice. You go through 60 minutes on the Saturday and shut down one of the best teams in the division and then immediately we concede! That was super frustrating.
“We played really well to get back into that game. I was delighted for Harry Lillis, scoring his first goal this season to get us back in the tie.”
Lillis recently returned from a shoulder injury sustained in a game against the same side earlier this season.
Lennon said: “We looked in good shape, really forcing the issue, pressing them well and putting them in uncomfortable spaces.
“On Saturday, I felt like that was the first time we played three good periods of hockey against top opposition. On Sunday, we did two of the three. We just needed three.
“We had something to protect (going into the third period) and we didn't protect it. They scored pretty early on, got themselves motivated and back in and we just didn't have that same energy.”
The Mos are without a game this weekend. They return next week with an on-the-road double header as they visit Cardiff Fire and Swindon Wildcats 2.