THE Medway-based ice hockey side Invicta Dynamos were found wanting at the weekend against two sides serious about taking the English National Premier League title away from Medway.

Away at table-toppers Milton Keynes, reigning champions Invicta were humbled 8-1 and Peterborough's first visit to the Ice Bowl saw the new Phantoms side win 5-1.

Now the Mos have lost seven times this season, two more than the whole of last, and are a dismal ninth in the table.

Player-coach Carl Greenhous said: “It was a disappointing couple of results. We were simply outclassed on the bigger ice at Milton Keynes and once again our short bench was our downfall.

“We lost Matt Beveridge five minutes into Saturday's game with a back injury that kept him out all weekend. He has muscle spasms so we won’t be rushing him back.

“And the absence of captain Phil Chard meant we were missing a key offensive and defensive player and we could not cope with that.”

Against MK, the British D-man was sorely missed as Matt Van Der Velden in the Invicta net was hit with an avalanche of shots from the drop of the puck.

It took just two minutes to break down the defence with brilliant youngster Greg Owen getting off the mark, swiftly followed by fellow forward Gary Clarke.

By the time the clock read 5.13, Clarke had completed his hat-trick and the impressive MK were four up and flying.

Another minute, another goal and the shell-shocked Mos were 5-0 down after six minutes and called a time out to try and regain composure, but MK picked up where they left off scoring again at 9.49 through Mark Krater.

It was not until the 13th minute when Paul Hume and Elliot Andrews combined to produce the first of Invicta's three shots for the period. Then at 13.39 Duane Ward combined with Jake French and Paul Hume to score Invicta's only goal of the night.

Invicta rallied in the second period to try and limit the damage with Greg Hales joining the fray, but at 23.52 MK added their seventh from Mark Conway.

With the result settled, both sides increased the ice time for their youngsters.

The third period passed quickly without major incident until Sean Clement was called for holding and Lightning sniper Owen converted at 53.48.

The following night at home it was again obvious from the start that Invicta would have their work cut out when Peterborough pinged the cross bar within 30 seconds.

Phantoms’ former GB international Doug McEwan was causing problems and it took an outstanding effort by Van Der Velden to deny him a goal at 8.37.

The Mos' netminder was in fine form, but was finally beaten at 17.38 by Duncan Cook and again a minute later from Shaun Yardley.

It was former Ice Bowl favourite Luc Chabot who grabbed an early goal in the second for Peterborough from his favourite position on the blue line.

Mos were finding the second period a struggle, until man of the match Muzzy Wales pulled one back.

Chabot made it 4-1 before Jesse Hammill hit the self-destruct button, receiving two-game misconduct penalties for leaving the bench and for abuse of an official.

This and many more powerplays were squandered by Invicta, including when former Dynamo Darren Cotton had a paddy following a tripping call at 43.19 and got an additional four minutes for abuse and delay of game.

Chabot had the last say, capping what must have been a satisfying return to Medway, with his hat-trick goal at 50.58.