Invicta Dynamos made a winning start to their NIHL South Division 1 season with victory over Milton Keynes Thunder at Silverblades Gillingham on Sunday.

A double from Canadian Justin Noble and goals from Andy Smith, Peter Vaisanen (pictured), Nicky Lewis, Callum Fowler and Joe Bliss saw Dynamos to victory, with the man-of-the-match accolade going to Aaron Strawson for his excellent defensive display.

Anthony Lennon and Bradley Watchorn were unavailable for the Dynamos, who gave new signing David Wride a home debut in net.

Wride was given a lot to do in the opening minutes but Milton Keynes failed to make the most of some promising opportunities and it was the home side who took the lead after nine minutes when a Fowler effort was redirected inside the back post by Smith.

Dynamos wasted the chance to go further ahead when Callum Best hit his penalty over the bar after the Milton Keynes defence had been found guilty of lying on the puck.

Thunder's Harrison Goode made it 1-1 before the interval and the visitors then moved 2-1 ahead at the start of the second frame through Latvian forward Maksims Petruks. However by the end of the session it was 3-2 to the Dynamos following goals from Noble and Vaisanen.

The third frame belonged to the Dynamos, who were gifted the chance to add to their advantage when Petruks’ high stick saw him take a seat in the penalty box. A man up, the hosts then made the difference count on a counter attack as Tom Avery’s breakout pass set Noble through and he drilled a wrist shot home to make it 4-2.

Soon after Welsh winger Lewis opened his account and it was 6-2 when Vaisanen's sweep to the net was converted by Fowler. Bliss used his pace to complete the scoring.