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Arriving at the Riverside rink with just eight skaters, the Lee Valley faithful were on a hiding to nothing from the start. The game started well, with Nick Alley gaining a breakaway and Andrew Boot in goal making a number of solid saves within the first few minutes. Ross Brears nearly scored the Chieftains’ first goal ten minutes in, hitting the crossbar while the Lions were short-handed. Chelmsford’s players were circling Boot like sharks, the shots kept coming and the inevitable goal finally came at 12:43, scored by Danny Hammond, assisted by Jaroslav Pavlus and Lee Brears.

A second goal looked certain as a Chieftain was left unmarked right in front of Boot but luckily the player totally misjudged his shot and it went wide. It was left to Hammond to score, the puck skimming the top bar as it hit home. A powerplay goal, the assists were identical to those of the first goal.

Michael Ranby was checked by the opposition and his helmet came off. He was rewarded with 2-mins for “illegal equipment” at 19:34! At the end of the first period the Lions were still only two goals down and had every reason to feel proud of themselves.

Chelmsford’s third goal came at 22:18 and was accredited to Lee Brears. The fourth arrived just 42 seconds after as Danny Hammond scored his hat-trick, this time assisted by Sean Easton and netminder Michael Robinson. Lee Valley retaliated by holding the play at the other end of the ice. They put in some clever manoeuvres but were prevented from pulling them off.

The Chieftain’s fifth goal came at 26:12 and again, the ping of puck on metal was heard by the hundreds crowding out the rink. The scorer this time was Nathanael Williams, assisted by Darren Brown and Sean Martin. Tables were turned for the sixth goal at 30:08 as Martin scored with assistance from Williams. The seventh was a clear slapshot straight into the back of the net at 32:23 and was scored by Jaroslav Pavlus, assists going to Lee Brears and Reece Covington.

Ross Brears seized a breakaway and scored the eighth at 33:30, assisted by Richard Whiting. Poor Andrew Boot was left floored, his arms raised in exasperation at his team-mates. There was no let-up in the barrage Boot faced and although he made the initial stop, the combination of Pavlus, Brears and Hammond struck again as the puck dropped onto the ice and slid across the line at 39:43.

With a maximum of only three skaters on the bench at any one time, it was no surprising that the Lions were looking extremely fatigued and deflated by the end of the second period. After having faced 49 shots, Boot was rested in the third, his place between the pipes now occupied by Daniel Artis. Lee Valley also lost Nick Alley, who’d injured his right wrist.

Down to just two skaters to replace those on the ice, the Lions had no choice but to work even harder. Nick Breigoos and Michael Ranby continued to make spirited efforts to score but were to remain unlucky.

Chieftains’ Danny Hammond hit the crossbar seven minutes into the session to deny him a fourth goal. Michael Ranby had a breakaway, took the puck all the way up the ice but played it too clever and wasn’t able to finish. Play immediately returned to the Lions’ defensive zone and although Daniel Artis made the save, the puck then dropped over the line and the tenth goal was in. This was courtesy of Sean Easton, assisted by Darren Brown at 51:19.

Goal number 11 came as Richard Whiting handed the puck to Nathanael Williams, who passed the puck across the goal and onto the stick of Darren Brown, who put the puck into the corner of the net at 52:51. Chelmsford’s 12th and final goal was scored just six seconds from the final buzzer, thanks to Jaroslav Pavlus, who was assisted by Sean Martin and Danny Hammond.

For all the effort put in by all the players it was very disappointing to be shut out, but the Lions did at lest prevent Chelmsford from scoring more goals than they’d scored at the previous encounter.

This may have been the last game of the season, it may have been against the team who’d only lost one game all season (and who most would agree shouldn’t have been put in this league in the first place), a loss may have been a forgone conclusion but ALL players should have had the strength of character to see the season out and put on a united front. Those who pulled out with lame excuses or simply couldn’t be bothered to turn up and play did their team-mates, coach, management and fans a great disservice.

Referee was Dodsworth, Linesmen were Boot and Tottman.