Category: Matches

Lee Valley couldn’t match the previous week’s heroics against Oxford as their woes away from home continued in Hampshire. Missing were Max Gerstein and Theo Abban. Making his senior début was junior player Jordan Turner, while George Alley came into goal for his first start of the season.

First Period: Basingstoke started the stronger, making the most of their large ice pad and cycling well from their own end. The Lions were beginning to leave gaps in neutral ice and after creating a few chances, the Buffalo were 1-0 up after a 2-1 broke from the Lions’ corner and Simon Beere (8:29, assists Sutton & Wheeler) slotted in at Alley’s near post. The possession didn’t change much and Basingstoke started to stretch the visitors more and more, eventually Alex Sampford (10:19, assists Pitts & Tambellini) scored from a similar angle after good work in the corners. This sparked the Lions into life and the visitors began to work their way back into the game with James Hepburn, Romanas Fedotovas  and Richard Hodge working well to force good saves from Chris Edwards in the Buffalo net. No goals came of it though and the stanza ended 2-0 to Basingstoke.

Second Period: Lee Valley didn’t do themselves any favours at the start of the period, first James Hatfull was penalised for roughing and following that, the Lions were given a penalty for too many men on the ice. It was on the proceeding powerplay that Basingstoke capitalised. David Collins (23:40, assist Pitts)  tipped a shot from the blue line to put the Buffalo 3-0 up. Despite pressure from the visitors, it was sloppy marking in the neutral zone that allowed Alex Sampford (28:17, unassisted) to breakaway 1-on-1 against Alley and the forward dispatched his chance, making it 4-0. The Lions were having the majority possession from there and were working the home goalie hard. The Line of Nick Alley, Bailey Wooton and Joe Berry created several chances in one shift, including a shot from young defenceman Jarvis Mewett that just stuck under Edwards’ right pad. The pressure finally paid off as Richard Hodge (35:18, assist Hepburn) was left open in front of net and pulled one back for Lee Valley, who ended the period with their tails up, but they couldn’t convert any more chances and it ended 4-1 to the home side.

Third Period: The Lions started the period as they had ended the second, creating chances but not being able to convert them. Both sides then exchanged attempts on goal but both goalies held firm and it wasn’t until Nick Alley was penalised for slashing that Basingstoke got their 5th, Simon Beere (52:37, assists Wheeler & Dollin)  sneaking behind the Lions’ defence on the powerplay to tip another blue line shot. This didn’t disparage the Lions though, they continued to attack and eventually out-shot the hosts in the period, but for Edwards in goal. Basingstoke killed the game off when Lee Valley failed to clear their zone, leaving the Buffalo to go 3-on-1. Alley saved well from the initial cross-ice play but Neil Leary (55:46, assists Beere & Sutton) was left unopposed to poke the rebound home, making it 6-1 and the game didn’t really produce anything after that.

Lee Valley travel to Swindon NIHL Wildcats next Saturday, hoping to get back to winning ways immediately.

Period Scores: Basingstoke 2-0/2-1/2-0 Lee Valley
Shots on Goal: 27 on Edwards (Basingstoke), 33 on Alley (Lee Valley)
Penalties in Minutes: Basingstoke 4-27 Lee ValleyScorers: Basingstoke – Simon Beere (2+1), Alex Sampford (2+0), Mark Pitts, Ryan Sutton & Gareth Wheeler (0+2), Neil Leary (1+0), Francesco Tambellini & Sam Dollin (0+1).
Lee Valley – Richard Hodge (1+0), James Hepburn (0+1)
Man of the Match: Basingstoke – Simon Beere, Lee Valley – Richard Hodge

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Lee Valley Lions caused the shock of the season in NIHL2 as league champions and then-unbeaten Oxford City Stars were humbled at the Den, giving the Lions their first victory in over a month (a 5-4 win against Wightlink).

First Period: Oxford, as expected, started the faster of the two sides. Playing with speed and precision they showed why they have been the dominant team since dropping from Division 1 a couple of years ago. However, there were no clear-cut chances, Lee Valley began to work their way back into the game and it was the Lions who struck first. The on-form Romanas Fedotovas set up by his line-mates James Hepburn and Richard Hodge (3:25), this rattled the Stars and they created more chances, only to come up against an in-form Aaron Mallet. Lee Valley weren’t being pushed over though, and the hosts got another goal at 9:14 when Fedotovas (assist Hatfull) went through the Stars’ defence to round Ricky Young. The visitors upped the physical side of their game and both sides began to take penalties, Hepburn sitting for clipping and Fedotovas then going for tripping, then interference. Neither side could add to the scoreboard and it ended 2-0.

Second Period: A much closer affair, both sides found it difficult to break the other down. Oxford going close a few times, there was a brief moment of worry for the Lions when goalie Mallet had an Oxford forward accidentally fall on his arm, causing a short delay but he was able to carry on. Oxford got their breakthrough shortly after when Nick Oliver finished off one of the visitors’ many well-cycled plays (29:24, assist Whillock) to bring it back to 2-1. The Stars were now playing with their tails up but the Lions held firm and were able to see the period out without any further incident. Ending 2-1, Lions.

Third Period: With the Lions now under pressure from a resurgent Oxford, the last thing they needed was to take penalties to increase that pressure. Unfortunately, Graham Lewis (interference) and Jack Ball (holding) both took separate spells in the sin bin. Lee Valley were able to hold firm though and got another go-ahead goal when Richard Hodge’s shot (47:19 unassisted) from the blue line was deflected straight through Ricky Young’s legs. It wasn’t all over though, and from thereon in the Stars began to up the ante, keeping the pressure on the Lions’ goal. With the clock ticking down, they finally got their goal. After a scramble in front of net, the puck trickled out in front to a waiting Joe Oliver (57:03, assist Broughton), who blasted the shot home to the delight of the visiting fans. Cue now an incredibly tense last few minutes where Oxford pummelled Mallet, but the hosts were able to weather the storm. And as the clock hit zero, the Lions rushed to the ice as though they’d won the league, bringing an end to a fantastic game and a much-deserved Lions win. Having thrown a few games away in the last period recently, it was refreshing to see Lee Valley hold their nerve and close out a match right to the end. And what a way to do it.

Lions 3-2 Oxford.
A post match interview with Lions’ Head Coach, Gary Dodds, can be found HERE, courtesy of OxfordCityStarsTV (© all rights reserved).

The Lions travel to Basingstoke Buffalo next week, hoping to keep this run going. Our next home game is at home to Cardiff Devils on the 7th of December.

Period Scores: 2-0/0-1/1-1
Shots on Goal: 36 on Mallet (LV) 16 on Young (OXC)
Penalties in Minutes: Lee Valley 14-20 Oxford
Scorers: Lee Valley – Romanas Fedotovas (2+0), Richard Hodge (1+1), James Hepburn & James Hatfull (0+1). Oxford – Nick Oliver & Joe Oliver (1+0), Michael Whillock & Sam Broughton (0+1)

Man of the Match: Lee Valley – Max Gerstein, Oxford – Andy Cox

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Lee Valley Lions were left wanting late on again as Peterborough Islanders slipped away from East London with a late victory. After the previous week’s poor showing in Slough, the Lions were looking to bounce back immediately.

First Period: The visitors were first off the mark when Craig Lazenby went in unassisted (4:07), Romanas Fedotovas continued his scoring form (7:39, assist Berry) and from there the Lions began to pressure the visitors without much response, only sixteen seconds later, Fedotovas drew the Islanders’ defence away from net to feed James Hepburn (7:54) putting Lee Valley 2-1 up. Despite the barrage on Peterborough’s goal, the Lions couldn’t add to their tally and the score remained 2-1 at the close.

Second Period: Lee Valley have developed a bad habit of conceding early and that unfortunately continued when Steve Maile (21:53, assist Porter) to tie the game. The Lions were back in front again when Gennadi Yufit (26:15, assists Hatfull and Fedotovas) tipped in brilliantly from James Hatfull’s slap shot, ringing the puck in off the cross bar and post to leave Isles goalie Samuel James no chance. From thereon though the visitors settled down and took advantage of some poor Lions defending, first Maile (28:25, assist Mackintosh) equalised, then Alexander Cleves (29:58, unassisted) went in alone before Lazenby was put through by Pentecost (37:56) to make it 5-3 to Peterborough going into the third.

Third Period: Now chasing the game, Lee Valley began to up the ante on the Islanders who were beginning to tire. Joe Berry made it 5-4 (45:30, assist Scott-Joseph) before several chances hit the post or just went wide of James’ net. The Lions hadn’t given up yet, and it was a penalty to Maile that saw Lee Valley’s opening when James Hepburn was put in for his second of the evening (55:57, assist Yufit). Instead of settling for a hard earned point, the Lions decided to go for the win but when Ashlee Cave was sent to the box for tripping late on, it was Peterborough who laid the final blow. With Lee Valley attacking shorthanded, a clearance by the visitors was missed by the defenceman and James Pentecost (59:21, assist Turley and Porter) broke away unopposed on Aaron Mallet to seal the win. Ending the game Lions 5-6 Peterborough.

Period Scores: 2-1/1-4/2-1
Penalties: Lee Valley 20-30 Peterborough
Man of the Match for Lee Valley was Nick Alley

Our next match is on Saturday, November the 9th at home to league leaders Oxford City Stars. Face off at 5:15pm.

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Lions faced a tough trip to Slough NIHL Jets on Saturday evening, looking to avenge the 5-2 defeat on the opening day of the season.  Still missing were Gennadi Yufit and Max Gerstein whilst James Hatfull was also missing from the line-up. Nick Alley and Theo Abban returned and Jarvis Mewett also stepped up from the Under 18s’ side.

First Period: It didn’t take long for the controversy to start, and the officials were soon facing the wrath of the Lions’ bench when a Jets forward tried to jump around Nick Alley and they went knee-to-knee. As a result of the injury, Alley was thrown from the game only 39 seconds in. With the visitors clearly rattled and frustrated by the decision, Slough were quick to capitalise and were ahead at 1:03 when Zoran Kozic was put through by Joseph Day. Lions settled and worked themselves back into the game, James Hepburn (10:23, assist Fedotovas) taking advantage of a Slough penalty to tie the game. Romanas Fedotovas (15:18, assist given to Ball) then got in on the act when Theo Abban sent him through with a brilliant cross-ice pass, the Lithuanian rounding Laura Saunders. Brandon Miles (15:39, assist Kozic) evened the scores shortly after before Joseph Day went in unassisted at 19:19 to give Slough the lead at the end of the period, ending 3-2.

Second Period: It didn’t take long for the hosts to extend their lead, Nathan Darmanian (23:39, assist Kozic) before Ben Ealey-Newman was put through (25:03, assist Kozic) to make it five. Now having to chase the game, the Lions began to put pressure on the Jets’ goal with Saunders making a couple of big stops. Both sides were letting the officiating get to them and it was a retaliatory roughing call to James Buckingham that gave Lee Valley their opening. The Lions were able to set up in the Slough zone, and good work from James Hepburn allowed Fedotovas to score a screened slap shot from the blue line (28:47, assist Berry and Hepburn). With Lee Valley upping their hitting game, the Jets began to take more penalties. Miles, Kozic and Gilheany all sat after reacting but there were to be no more goals and the period ended 5-3 to Slough.

Third Period: Despite the early powerplay advantage, Lee Valley couldn’t capitalise. As they tried to break out, a loose cross pass from a Lions forward went straight to a waiting Joshua Condren (40:45, unassisted) who went in on Aaron Mallet to put Slough ahead by three. That goal seemed to take the wind out of the Lions’ sails, despite the early niggles and tension between the two sides. The game petered out and apart from a couple of penalties, the Lions weren’t able get back into the match, Saunders and Mallet both making good saves. The Jets eventually saw the game off when Condren (55:29, assists Miles and Griffiths) again broke through the visitors’ defences to end it Slough 7-3 Lee Valley.

Period Scores: Slough 3-2/2-1/2-0 Lee Valley
Shots on Goal: on Saunders (Slough) 38-40 on Mallet (LV)
Penalties: Slough 28-35 Lee Valley
Scorers: Slough – Zoran Kozic (1+3), Joshua Condren (2+0), Brandon Miles & Joseph Day (1+1), Ben Ealey-Newman (1+0), Simon Griffiths (0+1).
Lee Valley – Romanas Fedotovas (2+1), James Hepburn (1+1), Joseph Berry & Jack Ball (0+1)

Next Saturday, the Peterborough Islanders travel to the Den for our first meeting of the season, face off at 5:15pm

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Lee Valley picked up their first win of the season, and the their first since 2012 with a victory over the Wightlink Tigers.

Missing Gennadi Yufit, Max Gerstein, Nick Alley and top goals scorer Theo Abban the Lions were still feeling confident after last weeks draw in Cardiff. Defenceman Romanas Fedotovas up to wing, playing on a line with Richard Hodge and James Hepburn to start the game.

First Period: The game couldn’t have started much worse for the hosts. It only took 50 seconds for the Tigers to go in front, with the Lions caught napping at neutral ice allowing Shaun Harris to send Andrew Robinson off down the wing, slotting in as James Gosling covered the 2-on-1. The Tigers’ celebrations were short lived though as the new line of Hepburn, Hodge and Fedotovas gelled quickly, Hodge setting the Lithuanian Junior International up to equalise (3:08). The game went back and forth but this line continued to threaten and it wasn’t long before Hodge received a return gift from his line mate, another quick break saw the pair link up again to take the lead (5:57). The visitors weren’t going away though, just as Lee Valley thought they had a foothold on the match, another mid-ice turnover left Gosling and Mallet exposed again with Joseph Denness (8:45, unassisted) counter attacking on a Lions powerplay to tie things up. It didn’t end there; Hodge sent Fedotovas in again before he faked a slapshot and rounded Tigers’ goalie Aaron Craft to put the Lions up by one (10:03). The frustrations were starting to come to a boil; when a few off the puck incidents went un-called, Fedotovas and Wightlink’s Graham MacFarlane got involved in a skirmish the led to a whole line brawl in one corner of the rink. The resulting penalties saw the two thrown out of the game for roughing and other misconduct penalties, the Lions feeling hard done by as a result of the calls. The period wasn’t as exciting after that and ended 3-2 to the Lions.

Second Period: After all the back and forth play of the first, the second was a much tighter affair defensively, with both teams exchanging periods of dominance. Wightlink were first to strike this time, when the Lions thought the hosts had played themselves offside, play continued and Jamie Lee (28:39, assist Edwards) took advantage of a scramble to score on a sprawled Mallet. This spurred the hosts on and the continued to create chances. Calum Heath missed a couple of in the slot and Under 18 Jarvis Mewett lost the puck at his feet as he was tied up in front of net. The breakthrough finally came as James Hepburn (39:05, assist Hatfull) sped down the ice and deked in and out of the Tigers’ defence before rounding Craft to get the go-ahead goal. Ashlee Cave then went close with a deflection on the buzzer, ending the period 4-3 to the Lions.

Third Period: Whilst the Lions were beginning to get a firm grip on proceedings, they couldn’t find the killer touch needed to put the Tigers away. Hepburn went close, a deflected shot ringing off the post. This lack of scoring touch in front of net was almost costly, as with less than three minutes left, Lewis Tribble (57:03, assist Wyatt) took advantage of sloppy play in the Lions’ defensive zone. The hosts must have thought they were in for another late collapse until the refs called Robinson for a hit on Cave, who was then jumped by Tribble. Both received penalty calls at 58:20 to give Lee Valley the 5-on-3 advantage. With the crowd on their feet, Ben Osborne won the face-off and the puck was picked up by Joseph Berry, whose shot deflected slightly, passing above Craft’s arm and into the back of the net (58:34), sending the Lions’ bench and their supporters wild. It wasn’t all over; Osborne missed a chance to kill the game off as Craft just managed to hold the puck underneath him and the Tigers had one more attempt to tie the match but it was Lee Valley who finally came good. Their first win in two seasons, lifting them to 5th in the league table.

Period Scores: Lee Valley 3-2/1-1/1-1 Wightlink
Shots on Goal: on Mallet (LV) 45, on Craft (WT) 37
Penalties in Minutes: Lee Valley 37-42 WIghtlink
Top scorers: Lee Valley – Fedotovas (2+1), Hodge (1+2) and Hatfull (0+2). Wightlink – Robinson, Deness, Lee & Tribble (all 1+0) and Harris, Edwards, Wyatt & Gutteridge (all 0+1)Man of the Match: Lee Valley – James Hepburn, Wightlink – Lewis Tribble

Photos from the game, courtesy of Patrick Ayling, can be found here.