‘Kids for a Quid’ as Invicta Dynamos host Oxford City Stars in NIHL South Division 1 on Saturday – Teams play again on Sunday for a Southern Cup encounter – preview from head coach Karl Lennon
05:00, 01 February 2024
Invicta Dynamos are expecting at least two players back this weekend to help strengthen their roster ahead of a double header against Oxford City Stars.
The Mos have been depleted since the argy-bargy in Streatham cost them four players through suspension - one who has since left - and a couple with injuries. Matty Bell and Brandon Chard are both free to return this weekend having seen out their bans.
More: Fine margins as Invicta lose out in cup semi
Head coach Karl Lennon could also welcome back another young player in Gregor McAllan after he picked up an injury in the bad-tempered match. Captain Harrison Lillis is working his way back from a fractured hand that he sustained in the same game, but isn’t expected back yet.
The Dynamos lost their South League Cup Semi-Final with Streatham last weekend 7-4 on aggregate and now host Oxford in NIHL South Division 1 on Saturday before the sides meet in the Southern Cup on Sunday.
Suspensions for Bell and Chard were both upheld by the league, despite Mos’ appeal over their bans, and the case against the club remains open following the abandoned Southern Cup game, although Streatham have been awarded a 5-0 win - a decision that again left a few scratching their heads.
It’s left the Mos with a tough job to overhaul Streatham at the top of the five-team mini-league that forms the Southern Cup.
Looking ahead, Lennon said: “Oxford have had a lot of disruption over the last few weeks and months, they have a new coach, he has moved a few players on from the start of the season and brought in some new players, some talented guys.
“The result that they had against us in the last game wasn’t overly poor, a close game and we did well to come out on top but the result at the weekend for them was very poor, losing at home to the team at the bottom of the table, which was unexpected.
“I expect them to be a little more motivated when it comes to playing us at the weekend. It is an opportunity for us to get back on track and try and put some points back on the board.
“While it was good to be competitive with Streatham last weekend we want to be winning games.
“We will have Matty and Brandon back, which is a great addition for us, they have been two really good players for us this year and we are hoping Gregor might be back from his injury.
“Those three additions would be massive for us. We had games last weekend where we had to call upon the bare squad and I have said it many times, when we have a full roster available we are super competitive in this league and have had some really good results.”
It’s ‘Kids for a Quid’ on Saturday at Planet Ice, with a maximum of four children aged 5-15 admitted at the discounted price when accompanied by a full-paying adult.
Doors open at 5pm and face-off is at 5.45pm. Pre-booking online is advised.
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