Lions Break Scoring Duck but Go Down to Bristol

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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 0 Oxford City Stars 13

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A heavy home defeat for the Lions and a result which takes Oxford to second in the table, and with games in hand, looking favourites for promotion. Although the Lions didn’t generate much offense, they limited Oxford to few quality chances in the first period, conceding just twice, while Theo Abban came close on a breakaway.
Although the Lions began the second period well and Callum Heath and Abban again went close, Oxford regained their superiority by the mid way point, and scored five more by the end of the period.
The third period saw six more for Oxford, Scott Beeson hitting the post for Lions for the second time in the game, but chances were rare for Lee Valley who were unable to contend with the speed of the Stars.

Stars Shine on Sunday, Leaving Lee Valley Goalless.

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The pride of East London took another blow as a Lions’ side, missing Scott Beeson and Joe Berry were hammered 12-0 by an in form Oxford City Stars at Oxpens Road, last night.

Perhaps still feeling the effects of the previous nights match, Lee Valley were down in 31 seconds as a resurgent Stars side (looking to bounce back from an 18-1 hammering by Romford Raiders the previous evening), scored through long time stalwart Darren Elliot, assists coming from Alan Green and Nick Oliver. Only two minutes later, the Stars were 2-0 up from Oliver’s younger brother Josh, assist to Jonathan Bayliss. The score stayed the same throughout the period with both teams receiving coincidental minors at 5:25 (too many men and high sticking respectively).

Needing to score next to get back in the game, Lions were left kicking themselves as their misfiring Power Play continued to struggle. Warren Jones going in unassisted for a Short Handed effort halfway through the period. It wasn’t long before Oxford started to get into their stride, with Darren Elliot scoring twice in quick succession first from another Oliver (Joe) and Andy Cox before netminder Ruth Cattell was pulled for Aaron Mallet. Then again two minutes later, again from Joe Oliver with a second assist going to Nick… Oliver. The period ending with Oxford 5-0 ahead.

Despite the scoreline, Lee Valley can’t have predicted the onslaught that was ahead of them as the Stars pumped a further 7 goals in to heap the misery on the Lions,. Nick Oliver, James Clarke, Darren Elliot (his fourth of the night) and Josh Oliver scored four in five minutes to put the game beyond doubt. Before Jones and Green (twice) got back on the score sheet to end the night with an emphatic dozen for other men in green.

With the Stars coming back to the den in two weeks time (16th of February) for the return match. Lee Valley will expect another tough night but, hopefully a more exciting game will in prospect.

Final Score: Oxford Stars 12-0 Lee Valley
Period Scores: 2-0/3-0/7-0
Shots on Goal: 14 on Young (OX), 23 on Cattell and 34 on Mallet (both LV) (9-11/4-12/4-25)
Penalties in Minutes: OX 16-4 LV
Top scorers: Darren Elliot (4+1), Alan Green (2+3) and Nick Oliver (1+3) (All Oxford)

Lions Shut Out as Tigers Leave With the Win.

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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)