WITH two points separating the top two and three games to play, the race for the English National Hockey League crown looks to be going down to the wire.

Holders and current leaders Invicta Dynamos need to hold their nerve, starting with Bracknell Hornets away on Sunday and Cardiff ENHL Devils can’t catch them.

But Dynamos player-coach Kev Parrish knows one slip-up and the Devils lie in the wings ready to steal their crown.

He said: "If we win this weekend then we could retain the title in our next home game against Oxford on March 16 because our goal difference is so good, which is a great incentive.

"If we lose one of the next two, it will go down to the final game of the season."

In December at the Ice Bowl, Bracknell who had been one-time title challengers, were humbled 12-4, so Parrish is aware how revenge could be on their minds.

He said: "It was a bit of a surprise to beat them by so many and maybe the last result will be playing on their minds.

"We’re expecting a tough game because they are a physical side. They’ve got around 960 penalty minutes when everyone else is around the 300-400 mark.

"But I want all my players for the Oxford game, so I will be telling them to do exactly what we did at home – let them take the penalties and we’ll hit them on the powerplay."

Last weekend, the lowly Lee Valley Lions arrived in Gillingham and the Mos recorded a comfortable 9-4 victory.

Parrish admitted: "It was a bit of a nothing game but still one we had to win. We did take it a little easy on them. We played just four straight lines to give the kids a chance and those who don’t get much ice time more of a go."