Streatham Redskins were far from despondent despite starting the new year with a 7-2 defeat at reigning league champions Invicta Dynamos.

With illness and injury ruling out Russ Stevens, Tomas Valko and Dan Marashi, Redskins coach Barry Spours looked to some of his second string Bruins to boost the bench.

Veteran Pete Quiney, Perry Richardson, Nick Templeman and Douglas Tworogal stepped up to the plate and all played a part in a spirited performance.

Skipper Ed Koral said: “We always knew it would be a tough fixture.

“The guys who came in really stuck to their task and credit to them for stepping up in a difficult game.

“The most important aspect for us was that our heads did not go down when the Dynamos started to pull away. The team spirit is still strong and we will bounce back in the coming weeks.”

Invicta took the lead in the seventh minute courtesy of a Corey Watkins effort that goalie Shane Kemp was desperately unlucky not to stop as the puck bounced over his leg pad from the rebounded shot. Streatham were under pressure for most of the period however Liam Rasmussen (pictured) managed to get a break away that was well saved by Andy Mofatt.

Daniel Borges and Callum Fowler both had good chances to score but Kemp was really finding his form between the pipes. Streatham did manage to equalise with a good powerplay effort from Ed Koral, as the Redskins skipper fired home a one time slapshot into the top corner to send the visiting fans wild.

The second period predicatbly started flat for the Redskins and the Mo’s scored after 22 seconds of the restart as a long range Nicky Lewis effort somehow found its way under Kemps leg pad. With Ed Koral in the box serving an interference penalty a minute later, Invicta made it 3-1 with a well worked power play goal from Callum Fowler. Invicta really began to turn the screw on Streatham but all three lines were rolling well for the visitors, until a terrible tripping call on Jack Tarczycki gave Invicta another powerplay which Andy Smith converted to make it 4-1.

Streatham to their credit did not give up and five minutes later Joe Johnston released Liam Rasmussen and he made no mistake beating Moffat to put the Redskins back in the game at 4-2. The momentum did not last though and Nicky Lewis got his second of the night a minute later to give Invicta that three goal cushion and a 5-2 lead going into the break.

The third period was more of the same, however Invicta looked slightly less dangerous. Despite this, it only took them three minutes to score again, with Andy Smith firing home a cross ice pass from Fowler. Another strange refereeing decision in which Perry Richardson was checked by one Invicta player into another (with the latter hitting the deck), saw him assessed a boarding call to the bemusement of the Streatham bench.

Sadly for Streatham, this was punished on the powerplay again, with Daniel Borges scoring Invicta’s seventh of the night after good work from Andy Smith.

Streatham travel to Cardiff next Saturday before hosting the Dynamos on Sunday (6.45pm).