Lee Valley Lions 5 Bristol Pitbulls 6

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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.

Lions So Close Again

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Bristol Pitbulls snuck out of Lee Valley with a 6-5 victory. A slow first period, followed by a mad second session of 8 goals led to a tense finish at the den, Scott Beeson fanning a rebound in the dying seconds, giving Bristol the win.

Period Scores: 0-1/4-4/1-1
Shots on Goal LV 38-55 Bristol
Penalty minutes LV 14-20 Bristol

Full Match from Reg Dunlop coming shortly.

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Romford Fury 3 Lee Valley Lions 2

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The Lions came within minutes of taking their first point of the season at the title-chasing Romford Fury, but a goal with just over three minutes remaining meant another tough loss for Lee Valley.
There was little to report in a tame first period where the Fury took the lead with one of the few moments of quality, the score-line kept low by the net-minding if Aaron Mallet.
The second period was another story, with great play from both sides and some of the best attacking we’ve seen from the Lions all season.
The Fury went further ahead before the Lions fight-back, but within seconds of the 2-0 goal, Lee Valley burst forward with Phil Carlson shooting and Adam Peach following in the rebound to make it 2-1.
The Lions then went on a lengthy spell of domination; Scott Beeson and Chris Fox both close and Carlson nearly netting after a Beeson shot was parried.
At 37.49 the Lions had a breakaway opportunity and Theo Abban showed great speed and strength to fire in the equaliser, and the Lions came close to taking the lead when Fox hit the outside of the post in the dying seconds of the period.
The Lions couldn’t maintain their pressure in the final session, but appeared to have done enough to have earned that first precious point when a rebound was poked in, just trickling across the goal-line in the 57th minute to give Romford the win that lifted them to second in the league.

So close, but another loss for LVL, but some positives to take into training ahead of next weeks meeting with Bristol – one place ahead of the Lions – at Lee Valley Ice Centre.

Forward lines used from 35 min – end of game
11-9-26
17-10-4
12-9-8 GOAL LVL
11-10-26
17-9-4
——-
11-10-26
17-9-4
12-10-8
11-9-26 pen 9
10-26 SH1
8-17 SH2
11-10-26
17-9-4
12-10-8
11-9-26
17-10-4 GOAL RF
12-9-8
11-10-26
END