Lee Valley Lions

Chelmsford Warriors

Goals

Penalties

Lee Valley Lions

Chelmsford Warriors

Additional Comments:

They say that the sign of a good team is the ability to grind out a win when playing badly. Well, Lee Valley Lions certainly contributed to the second half of that phrase at Lea Bridge Road on Saturday night. Coming off a terrific road win in Basingstoke where the guys played more as a team than at any time this season, they seemed to take a step backwards for this fixture against Chelmsford. Passes were going astray at an alarming rate and there were large holes in their defence far more times than I care to remember – George Alley in the Lions’ net was exposed on far too many occasions to odd man rushes.

But having said all that the final score was a pleasing victory, although the fans present could hardly have felt they were in any kind of comfort zone during the whole game.

Lee Valley started slowly and looked nervous for the first few minutes, struggling to get into their stride, with Alley forced to make some good saves when the Lions were exposed at the back. The match remained tight until the fifteenth minute when James Hatfull hit a power play slapshot from just inside the Warriors’ blue line, breaking the deadlock. Unfortunately, Lee Valley were still allowing the Chelmsford team far too much room and netminder Alley was exposed twice in quick succession, the second time resulting in the equalising strike. Shots were coming thick and fast now and a minute later the Lions were ahead again as Stas Prokofiev put a pass onto the stick of Scott Beeson, who was alone at the far post with the Chelmsford netminder stranded at the near post. Despite this the story still did not change at the back for the Lions. George Alley was called on time and again to make good saves against rushes which should not have been allowed to happen and inevitably he was caught on the third one, leaving the score at the first break at 2-2.

The second session was very similar to the first as Lee Valley continued to make mistakes, yet managed to outshoot Chelmsford by 19 to 5. The home team capitalised on a power play to take a 3– 2 lead as Scott Beeson bagged his second of the night. The Warriors must have thought that they had a chance as they pulled one back with three minutes left with another a power play strike. However, the Lions hit back 25 seconds later when Romanas Fedotovas made his first mark on the game to take the home team into the second break ahead by a single goal. Chelmsford lost player/coach Andy Hannah during this period when his furious and foul-mouthed complaints about the Lions’ third goal got out of hand and he was ejected for verbally abusing the referee.

It was clear that Lee Valley have been working very hard on their power play. They sometimes seem to take a frustratingly long time setting up for a shot, but patience is often rewarded and it was again tonight. With numerous passes going around the Warriors’ box defence, the Lions waited for the opening, Michael Ranby slotted to Michael Jacobs who was open on the far post and he one-timed it past a stranded Chelmsford goalie.

With hopes raised again they were nearly dashed as, with 13 minutes to go, Chelmsford again got on the scoreboard. Another game with a 1-goal difference meant the Lions were under pressure from the team who only had two lines. Huge sighs of relief were heard when, with just under five minutes left, Joe Berry finished off a move involving Michael Jacobs and Rob Courtman, as he picked up a rebound and neatly found the back of the net. It then all got a bit too much for Romanas Fedotovas and Chelmsford’s Gary Brown as a barrage of blows were exchanged and the duo were rewarded for their entertainment with match penalties, resulting in an automatic 1-match ban.

Referee was Ross, Linesmen were Tottman and Boot.

Thanks to Tony Boot for writing this match report.