EVEN with luck against them, the Gillingham-based Invicta Dynamos ice hockey team stood firm to keep their play-off dreams alive at the weekend, especially netminder Matt Van Der Velden who picked up two player-of-the-match awards.

On Saturday they were desperately unlucky to lose 3-2 at the Link Centre against Swindon and then after the energy sapping game the tired players had to endure an enforced late night when their coach broke down.

Team manager Andy Mason said: "Some of the players didn't get home until 3am so did exceptionally well to put in such a workmanlike performance against Romford tonight after far from ideal preparations.

"The result reinforces the decision to rest some players when we played them with the league already won. We were criticised for that defeat but when it's mattered we've got the results and that's what counts."

Referee on both nights was Kieron O'Halloran, who reinforced his reputation as an official the Mos fans would like to see less of.

Jake French opened the scoring in the Swindon game getting a powerplay goal before Lynx fought back with their strong first line finding the net at 9.35 through Gareth Endicott. The next powerplay came at 17.22 and within a minute the Mos retook the lead with Andy Hannah linking well with Mike Kindred and Mikko Skinnari.

It was all about the netminders in the second period with Van Der Velden coming up big against Endicott, while Craig Wynn had his posts to thank when both Elliott Andrews and Skinnari sent shots pinging of the pipes.

The home side came out showing their claws in the third and levelled the game at 46:20 when the shot from Merv Priest just beat Van Der Velden.

Priest got the contentious winner at 53.15, but had the entire puck crossed the line before Beveridge cleared it? The Mos bench didn't think so but unfortunately the goal judge did.

Despite a frantic last couple of minutes, including punches thrown after a scramble in front of Wynn's net, it was Swindon who scored again but it came just after the final hooter.

Two defeats in the play-offs and you're out is the general rule so the Dynamos knew the importance of last night's game, but so did the Raiders who themselves had lost at Swindon.

Invicta were without Sean Clement (stomach bug) but Peter Korff did magnificently in his place.

Blood was spilled just two and a half minutes in, accidentally when Romford's Chad Brandimore's nose became closely acquainted with the puck. The game was played with an undercurrent of tension, which could easily have escalated into violence, especially when O'Halloran failed to punish bad boy Jason Rushton for a cynical and totally unnecessary check on Phil Chard.

Much to the disgust of the crowd 45 seconds later Skinnari received a stick in the throat again in front of O'Halloran and again it was ignored. In a professional performance the Dynamos refused to bite as Romford got in trips, slams and shoves whenever they could.

The first period was goalless with both netminders putting in early and successful bids for player of the match awards.

Van Der Velden was superb finally perfecting his human brick wall act with his first shutout of the season and a timely one at that, while Simon Smith pulled off countless classy saves.

The Mos finally got the breakthrough their patient play deserved when Elliott Andrews finished a great move involving Chard and Duane Ward at 22.27.

The third period was set up for a real classic blood and guts encounter but failed to live up to expectations.

It was not until 49.10 that the second goal went in, a goal borne out of sheer determination and will to win. Kindred refused to give up on a loose puck slipped it to Hannah who found Skinnari in front of goal.

The puck would not fall for the Finn but he still got his shot away. Smith saved but could do nothing as Hannah showed his strength zeroing in on the rebound and smashing it home.

The wild celebrations showed exactly how much this win meant, putting to rest the ghost of that defeat at the hands of Romford.