Simon Crosse has kindly provided some photos taken at last night’s away game against Chelmsford Warriors. You can view them here.
Category: Matches
Photos and report from Bristol away game
Graham Goodman, aka Flyfifer, has kindly permitted me to post some of his fab photos from last weekend’s Bristol away game on the site, together with the individual player photos he’s taken. He also has them available on his Facebook page those those who want to “tag” themselves. Also, Graham wrote an article on the game for the Bristol Post newspaper, which was posted to their website too. Many thanks to Graham for everything.
Lions Break Scoring Duck but Go Down to Bristol
The Lions put in one of their best, and certainly their most determined, display of the season, breaking their three game scoreless streak, before going down 8-4 to Bristol.
In the game played at Basingstoke due to the closure of the Bristol rink, the Lions arrived without seven players so acting coach Ian Prince had to improvise. Captain James Hatfull played at left wing alongside Scott Beeson and Michael Crosse, with the other forward line linking Adam Peach, Phil Carson and Callum Heath. The defence was made up of James Joseph, Jack Ball, James Gosling, Alan Go and young Jarvis Mewitt. Aaron Mallet was in goal and was once again kept busy in a first period which saw Bristol score four goals, and it may have been more if not for some good stops from the Lee Valley number 1.
But despite the lack of numbers and the four goal deficit, the Lions fought back well in the second period hitting the post and going inches wide on several occasions before Peach found Heath to slot in the first from the right of the crease at 29.58. Bristol struck back right away to make it 5-1 before Peach netted himself with a shot on 38 minutes. Crosse, Beeson and Carson all went close before the teams skated off with the score 5-2.
The Lions continued the fight back in the third with Crosse and Beeson combining nicely to create a number of chances including a shot from Joseph that went just over the bar and several scrambles around the Bristol net. Then Beeson connected with a Gosling pass to score at 48.05 when skating in from the right.
The Lions were unlucky to concede a goal on a bad deflection but Beeson scored again at 53.09 after good work from Carson and Bristol were unable to take victory for granted until the very last minutes.
Outshot 64/29 the short staffed Lions were bound to tire and Bristol added two late goals to make it an 8-4 score line which doesn’t do justice to the Lions’ spirit and determination.
Aaron Mallet took the man of the match and for the players that made the game, some very encouraging signs to take into the weekend double header with Swindon and Chelmsford.
Lions Shut Out as Tigers Leave With the Win.
A tight first two periods showed promise but, failure to convert chances, and slick finishing from the visitors first line left Lee Valley on the receiving end of another loss to Wightlink Tigers.
The first period was a relatively quiet affair with the Lions having the best chance. Chris Fox roofing the puck after good work behind the net by himself, and Theo Abban. However, referee Blaine Evans ruled the goal out for a player being in the crease. Other than that, most of the period was played at neutral ice with neither team managing to create any clear cut chances. Leaving it 0-0 going into the break.
The second was equally slow to start with. Lee Valley not making the most of an early power play chance and not being able to follow up on the rebounds given up by young Tigers’ netminder, Aaron Craft. It was half way through the period when Lewis Tribble joined a breakaway to finish a neat pass from Andrew Robinson, giving the men from the Island the lead. Second assist going to Andrew Campbell. Aaron Mallet was called into action several times but no more chances materialised, ending the session 1-0 to Wightlink.
After a tedious wait to get water cleared from the café end, the third period finally started. Five minutes in and the Tigers were in for their second as Robinson took the pass from Tribble, with a second assist, again going to the former Basingstoke and Gosport import, Campbell. As the period wore on, the Tigers started making better chances with Campbell getting on the score sheet after a sloppy turnover, led to a 3-on-1. Assists going to Robinson and Tribble. Wightlink then hit both posts in quick succession as Lee Valley failed to clear their zone, pressure told for the last time as Campbell again scored from his line mates, Tribble and Robinson to close the game out. The final score ending 4-0.
Final Score Lee Valley 0-4 Wightlink
Period Scores: 0-0/0-1/0-3
Shots on Goal: 51 on Mallet (LV), 30 on Craft (WT) (18/10-18/14-25/4)Penalties in Minutes: LV4-16 WT
Top Points scorers: Andrew Campbell (2+2), Andrew Robinson and Lewis Tribble (1+3)
Man of the Match: #1 Aaron Mallet (LV) and #1 Aaron Craft (WT)
Photos from Bristol game now on the site
Flyfifer (www.flyfifer.co.uk) has kindly provided me with some great photos from last weekend’s close encounter against the Bristol Pitbulls. Thanks to Graham for allowing me to feature his shots on the Lions’ site. You can see the gallery via the Photos section of the site.