Lee Valley Lions

Oxford City Stars

Goals

Penalties

Lee Valley Lions

Oxford City Stars

Additional Comments:

Still buoyant after the previous week’s draw against Swindon, the Lions knew they faced a tough challenge against Oxford City Stars, a team who were in the middle of the league table while the Lions remained at the foot. Adding to the pressure, the opposition fielded a full squad while the Lions had to rely on just 11 outfield players plus netminder Stefan Nubert.

The game didn’t start well for the Lions as Andy Cox quickly took the lead for Oxford after just 53 seconds. The goal was scored on a delayed penalty against Romanas Fedotovas who would have sat out 2-mins for slashing.

Undeterred the Lions seized a powerplay opportunity at 5:05 when Paul O’Neill scored his first of the night, assists going to new boy Andy Watt and Mark Saunders. It was Saunders who then put the Lions 2-1 up at 12:05, assisted by Scott Beeson.

The second period began, Beeson stepped up to the mark and scored unassisted at 22:10. Just seconds later Patrick Knightley clawed a goal back for the Stars, ably assisted by Paul Donohoe. Oxford’s equaliser came at 28:00, an unfortunate error allowing the puck to slip past Stefan Nubert.

Oxford had escalated their game, but the Lions were determined to gain the edge on their opponents. It was the turn of Romanas Fedotovas to break away and score a fine unassisted goal at 30:23, his effort being short-handed as James Hatfull served 2-mins for holding.

Hatfull came out of the box and redeemed himself with a powerful slapshot that sailed straight past netminder James Skaife and into the back of the net at 35:33. Again, the goal was unassisted and this time was scored on the powerplay as the Stars’ Robert Chalmers languished in the sin bin for hooking. Oxford were not prepared to surrender and it was Dean Francis who brought the Stars to within one goal of equalising at 36:41.

There was everything to play for in the final period, the Lions fully aware that a win was in their grasp by the narrowest of margins. Grant Hutcheon scored his first point of the season at 50:03, his goal assisted by James Scott-Joseph (also his first point) and Andy Watt. The final ten minutes of the game were full of excitement and tension and the Lions kept their cool, despite conceding a goal at 54:47 which put Oxford so close to equalising once more.

Time-outs were called by both teams and it was Oxford’s decision to pull netminder James Skaife, allowing an extra outfield player to pile on the pressure to score. The decision proved costly as Paul O’Neill hit the puck into the empty net from the far end of the ice, sealing Oxford’s fate and securing the Lions their first victory.

O’Neill commented, “For the first time it all seemed to come together. When it came down to the line we showed that we have the nerve and ability to step up a gear. Obviously this was an important step for us as a team and it will be great head-lifter before the big local derby next Saturday against Romford.”

Referee was Riddell, Linesmen were Edwards and Kemp.