Invicta Dynamos kick-started their National League challenge by inflicting a first defeat of the season on Bracknell Hornets last night in ENIHL South 1.

At the end of the second period the game was turning into a procession, as the home side led 5-1.

Elliot Andrews’ third of the season was added to by Adam Copland’s first, on the powerplay, as Invicta took a 2-0 advantage into the first intermission.

Bracknell pulled one back at the start of the second, before AJ Smith (2nd), Anthony Leone (2nd) and Andrews (4th), with the man advantage, looked to have sealed the points by the 40 minute mark.

The visitors had other ideas, however, as three goals in eight minutes reduced the Invicta lead to one, with five minutes remaining.

The eradication of silly, final period penalties, served the home side well this week though, as they held out for a second league win of the season.

The night before, Invicta began their ENIHL Cup campaign with another 5-4 win, at the Peterborough Islanders.

Martin Melichercik’s hat-trick was added to by Leone and Milan Kostolny as Invicta again held out in the final period.