Joe Johnston, who scored four times for Dynamos against Peterborough Picture: David Trevallion

Invicta Dynamos head coach Kevin Parrish is hoping that having a free weekend will prove a timely break for his players.

Leaders Dynamos suffered only their third ENIHL Division 1 defeat of the season last Saturday in a 5-1 drubbing at Bracknell Hornets.

Although they crushed bottom club Peterborough 14-1 a day later, Parrish admitted: "It’s probably a good thing that we haven’t got a game this weekend because it will give the boys the chance to go away and re-energise.

"Then, we can go back to the drawing board at training next Tuesday."

Last Saturday was the second time Invicta had been beaten at third-placed Hornets this season, with their only other defeat coming at second-placed Cardiff and Parrish added: "We do seem to have a bit of a problem when we play the other top teams on the road.

"I don’t know whether it’s down to the pressure but it’s something we need to address."

Parrish could not blame injury problems for the Bracknell defeat as his side were at full-strength and they took the lead in the first period through Peter Vaisanen.

But after that it was all downhill as the Hornets proved more clinical in front of goal.

Peterborough offered much less resistance on Sunday, when man-of-the- match Joe Johnston led the way with four goals as Dynamos took their goal tally in four matches against the Islanders this season to 52.

Parrish said: "I got the response I was looking for, although to be honest I would rather have been playing Bracknell again so that we could have got Saturday’s result out of the system. But we are still five points clear at the top and I’m not pushing any panic buttons yet."

Dynamos return to action with an away game against the Oxford Stars on Saturday, February 13. The following day they face Wightlink Raiders at the Gillingham Ice Bowl.