The Invicta Dynamos battled to a tremendous 9-7 aggregate victory over the Chelmsford Chieftains in the National Ice Hockey League Southern Cup final at the weekend.

After drawing Saturday’s first leg 4-4 in Essex Kevin Parrish’s side earned a 5-3 success in Sunday’s second leg in Gillingham to claim their first silverware in five years.

But that outcome had seemed unlikely when the Dynamos trailed 3-0 early in the second period of Saturday’s first leg to goals by Matt Turner, Ross Brears and Martin Piecha. Dynamos, however, began their fightback with a double strike from Andy Smith before Chelmsford’s

Michael Ranby made it 4-2 heading into the final period.

Invicta then showed great character in battling back once more to level the score in the final period through strikes by Andy Smith and Anthony Leone to set up Sunday’s second-leg showdown perfectly.

Again it was the Chieftains who struck the first blow, through Julian Smith. Callum Fowler and Andy Smith gave Dynamos a 2-1 lead, only for Matt Turner to level the scores again going into the second period.

Fowler then put Dynamos back in front, but Darren Brown brought Chelmsford back on level terms early in the final period. However, Dynamos were ahead again just seconds later when Fowler completed his hat-trick and the same player wrapped up a thrilling victory for the Dynamos, and the trophy, with his fourth goal in the dying stages.