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Sport

Invicta Dynamos lose 4-3 at home to the Romford Buccaneers and beat Milton Keynes Thunder 12-1 –Reaction to the weekend from head coach Karl Lennon

By: Luke Cawdell lcawdell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 10:00, 07 October 2024

Updated: 18:38, 07 October 2024

A humbling home defeat for Invicta Dynamos was followed by a professional display to bounce back with a big win on Sunday.

The Dynamos let a slender lead slip away on Saturday as they were beaten 4-3 by Romford Buccaneers in Gillingham before a comfortable 12-1 win over strugglers Milton Keynes Thunder the following night in NIHL South Division 1.

Invicta Dynamos celebrating a goal against Romford Buccaneers Picture: Jessica Dewey

The Mos has beaten Romford 11-4 in the last meeting between the sides but Lennon knew that result in Essex had been harsh on their rivals.

“We were super disappointed with the performance on Saturday,” he said.

“I don't think we went into it with the right mindset.

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“We had a very good win against them in their rink a few weeks earlier and I don't think that that was probably a fair reflection on them. On that day we managed to be quite clinical.”

Vilius Krakauskas slotted in an opener in the first period for the Mos and they led 3-2 going into the final period after Tom Soar struck twice - on what was to be a high scoring weekend for him.

Cameron Pywell faces off for Invicta Dynamos against Romford Buccaneers Picture: Jessica Dewey

Lennon said: “I almost would have preferred to have been down going into the third period because we were protecting something and I don't think we had the right sort of energy really to protect it.

“There was like a sort of presumption that we would just go on and chalk up a big score at the end.

“We gave away a couple of silly power-plays and they scored off the back of them. They had frustrated us all night long and when they got their go-ahead goal, they just continued to do it.

“In those last 10 minutes, we just didn’t have an answer at all. I couldn't remember us even having a good quality chance.

“Fair play and credit to Jason (Buckman) and his team. They were fantastic from the start. They were super competitive. They were very calm. Their structure was excellent. Completely different from the first time we played them.

Aaron Connolly clashes on the ice as Invicta Dynamos face Romford Buccaneers Picture: Jessica Dewey

“It was a humbling defeat and we probably needed that kick up the butt. We certainly have to take a lesson from that because we didn't approach it in the right way.

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“It wasn't for a want of saying what would happen, how it could play out. That's the most frustrating part of it.”

The team got together earlier than normal on Sunday to talk over the issues from the previous night and Lennon was keen for the group to get back to being a team, rather than individuals.

He said: “A lot of what was behind the failures we believe was maybe a little selfishness on our part as a team.

“If we want to be successful as a club, then it has to be the collective. It can never be the individual.

“The conversations were good. I was happy with how they were conducted and how they were contributed to as well.”

Invicta Dynamos hosted a 'Meet the fans' event after their match against Romford Buccaneers at Planet Ice, Gillingham Picture: Jessica Dewey

The Mos were expected to run up up a big win over MK and they did just that, scoring four goals in each of the three periods.

Soar scored five of them - to take his tally to seven for the weekend.

It was a fine individual effort from a forward that Lennon can rely on to be a team player.

“The guys were very professional throughout the whole game,” he said.

“It was quite a convincing performance and it was good to get some goals. That obviously helps people's confidence.

“Seven goals across the weekend is a spectacular return. Tom’s a clinical finisher and he shot to the top of the team scoring chart with that performance.

Tom Soar scored seven goals over the weekend for Invicta Dynamos Picture: Jessica Dewey

“He's confident in his own abilities. He's fantastic. The goals he scored were not from the place where he was going end to end with the puck and then trying to do everything himself. He was just getting himself into the right spaces at the right time and when he got the opportunity, he took them. That's what we want from players.

“We want them to play to their strengths. Tom absolutely did across the whole weekend. I'm very happy for him and with him.

“Tom expects himself as a player to contribute in scoring. That's a big part of his game but he is a selfless guy. He will work hard for the group. That is something that we appreciate.

“Sunday had to be about the collective, and not about the individual, and that’s what it was about.”

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