Invicta Dynamos 7 England U20s 1

A COMMANDING third period performance by the Gillingham-based Invicta Dynamos ice hockey team finally crushed a spirited England Under-20s side at the Ice Bowl on Sunday night.

The England players came out fighting and it was they who were putting in the big hits as the Mos refused to use excessive force on their younger opponents.

That was until the second period when a totally unnecessary and unproved punch by Rhodri Evans on Duane Ward sparked ugly scenes. Evans blind-sided Ward and as the scuffle continued an incensed player coach Carl Greenhous steamed in to offer his own type of retribution.

Ward received two minutes for roughing while Evans got 5+game and Greenhous was also chucked out for being the third man in.

After the game Greenhous said: "It was a sucker punch on one of our best players and we cannot let other teams take such liberties."

The Mos started the game getting three early shots on goal in the first minute, but David Lawrence in the nets stood up well. England looked lively with captain Tom Griffiths driving his team forward and they did not concede until 11.11 when another youngster, this time Peter Korff for Invicta chipped a well placed Jake French cross over the goalie's stick.

In a penalty-laden game the Mos frustratingly did not capitalise on having a man extra until their third powerplay when Sean Clement's slapshot was too hot to handle.

The second period was marred by over officious refereeing with 11 penalties called and the Evans, Ward and Greenhous incident.

Immediately after the scuffle the Mos' minds were elsewhere as some sweet passing resulted in Griffiths setting up Adam Brittle for England's only goal of the game.

Carl Ambler, on his Dynamos debut stood no chance, and the young netminder pulled off several fine saves to pick up the man of the match accolade, the best a brave dive to intercept the puck and break up a promising attack.

More penalties meant Invicta had a five on three powerplay and it only took 12 seconds for Clement to pick out Ward whose impressive stick handling allowed him to sweep a shot past Lawrence.

Tired of the England player's rough tactics they stepped up a gear, started to hit back and scored twice in the opening 40 seconds through Michael Wales and Elliott Andrews.

The contest was over, the wind taken out of England sails, and Wales made it 6-1 with a stunning solo effort skating around to make space for a shot that went in off the metal.

Matthew Beveridge wrapped up the scoring biding his time until he unleashed the puck under pressure high past the glove of replacement netminder Rik Ashton.

Greenhous said: "I was pleased with our performance, especially in the third. It's always difficult to play against England as it's easy to be complacent when you can't play as hard as you might against other teams.

"There is still no import news, but at the moment the old adage, don't fix what isn't broken, applies as the team has turned it around and is playing well.

"If we do sign an import we want to be sure of his pedigree. We'll only sign a top player not a benchwarmer. Likewise for the couple of Brits we have our eye on."