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Invicta Dynamos coach Karl Lennon looks ahead to their league game against Swindon Wildcats 2 at Planet Ice, Gillingham

05:00, 27 September 2024

Invicta Dynamos will be hoping to pick up their first home points of the season this weekend.

Head coach Karl Lennon has seen his men be “their own worst enemy” in back-to-back home defeats to top teams in NIHL South Division 1 so far.

Invicta Dynamos were beaten by Chelmsford Chieftains last Sunday Picture: David Trevallion
Invicta Dynamos were beaten by Chelmsford Chieftains last Sunday Picture: David Trevallion

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They lost 4-2 to Chelmsford Chieftains at home last Sunday and were beaten 7-5 by Streatham Redhawks the week before that.

Next up for the Mos in Gillingham is a visit from newly-promoted Swindon Wildcats 2.

Lennon said: “For me, the last two Sundays, against Streatham and Chelmsford, have been similar but in different circumstances.

“In one we were behind and trying to chase the game and in the other we were ahead and trying to close it. On both nights I felt we were our own worst enemy, which is the common denominator. If we can get that sorted we will be all right.

“That’s two home games on the spin where we should really have picked up points, but we didn’t.”

Things got heated as Invicta Dynamos took on Chelmsford Chieftains last time out Picture: David Trevallion
Things got heated as Invicta Dynamos took on Chelmsford Chieftains last time out Picture: David Trevallion

Those two games were close, and Lennon feels Mos should at least take something positive from them.

He said: “The confidence we have to take from this weekend and last is that we played the two top teams in our division last year, in terms of the league champions and the play-off champions, and we have matched them pretty much in the 60 minutes of the games.

“I don’t think on both nights we’ve played great, we’ve played okay. I think if we have a great game then we give them a scare, for sure, and I am pretty sure that across the year we will get some points against these guys.”

The Mos enjoyed an 11-4 win last Saturday away to Romford Buccaneers but on the Sunday, despite heading into the third period with a 2-1 lead, they ended up beaten by the Chiefs.

Fans watch on as Invicta Dynamos played Chelmsford Chieftains last Sunday at Planet Ice, Gillingham Picture: David Trevallion
Fans watch on as Invicta Dynamos played Chelmsford Chieftains last Sunday at Planet Ice, Gillingham Picture: David Trevallion

It’s just the one game this weekend, against a Swindon side coached by Ken Forshee, who played for the Dynamos in the 2007/08 season and shared the ice with Lennon.

The head coach said: “They have picked up a few players from around our division, so they will have a few experienced heads, but they will have a predominantly young roster of talented players and they won the under-18s national division last year, so they are a good side.

“It will be a very different proposition. They’ve a couple of wins already under their belt this year and we look forward to welcoming them.

“I played with Ken Forshee when he was here over 10 years ago now and so I look forward to seeing him and his team.”

Vilius Krakauskas in action for Invicta Dynamos against Chelmsford Chieftains last weekend Picture: David Trevallion
Vilius Krakauskas in action for Invicta Dynamos against Chelmsford Chieftains last weekend Picture: David Trevallion

The Mos faced former player Juraj Huska last weekend and managed to stop him scoring in their 4-2 defeat, but the Slovakian played a key role.

Lennon said: “He didn’t score against us, he tried, and in fairness he had a few moments where he was the creator of their goals. He was involved in at least three of their goals I think on the night.

“He is a fantastic hockey player and it was nice to see him and catch up a little bit. He did a good job considering he hadn’t played for a year, slotting seamlessly back in.”

Huska is back following a year’s ban after throwing his stick into the crowd while playing for the Mos.

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