Lee Valley Lions 5 Bristol Pitbulls 6

For the second game in a row, the Lions went down by a single goal, once again showing much improvement from early season form and at times playing some of the best hockey seen at the Ice Centre all season.

The Pitbulls came to Lee Valley looking for their fifth win on the trot and after a long scoreless spell, took the lead at 12.25. It was the only goal of the first period which saw the visitors take 17 shots to 11 from the Lions.

The second period opened with a fantastic stick save from Aaron Mallet before an equaliser from the Lions. Alan Go played the puck out to Harry Bishop who shot in from the left at 23.12. Scott Beeson put in the Lions ahead (asst. Richard Hodge and Joe Berry) just over a minute later but a 2+2 penalty on captain James Hatfull saw the Pitbulls level, and go ahead, with two goals 1.19 apart.

Josh Irish came close to levelling, before Chris Fox knocked in number three assisted by Michael Crosse. Berry (asst. Hodge and James Gosling) restored the lead, but it lasted only sixteen seconds before Bristol pulled a goal back at 35.22, and netted again to go in 5-4 up after two periods.

Berry forced a good save to start the third period, but a turnover allowed a Bristol breakout which they finished well to open up a two goal lead at 45.35.

But a Beeson breakaway, assisted by Hodge, short-handed, set up a big finish. Fox and Hodge both went close, but the Lions once again went down by the single goal to one of the form sides in the division.