Lee Valley Lions

Bracknell Hornets

Goals

Penalties

Lee Valley Lions

Bracknell Hornets

Additional Comments:

The three previous meetings between Lee Valley and Bracknell had all resulted in the Lions losing 2-6. The team had to regain some of the drive and determination that was sadly lacking the night before if they were to stand a chance of turning the tables.

Unfortunately things did not start well for Lee Valley as James Hatfull was sent to the sin bin at 01:30 for hooking and just 21 seconds later Bracknell scored their first powerplay goal. The lead rose to 2-0 at 03:39 after errors from Hatfull and Justin Grant resulted in an own goal that was credited to Bracknell’s high-scoring Craig Tribe.

The Lions soon put the mistake behind them as at 08:26 Ben Williams scored the Lions’ first, a powerplay goal that was assisted by Michael Ranby. This was followed a minute later by the equaliser, passes from Billy Whitney and Michael Jacobs providing Stas Prokofiev with the opportunity to outwit Hornets’ netminder Gavin Jackson.

Bracknell’s Captain James Galazzi was due to receive 2-mins for slashing when Lee Valley’s Andrzej Maslak broke away, took the puck up the ice and slotted it neatly in the top corner to put the Lions 3-2 ahead.

At 21:37 James Hatfull was sent to the penalty box for what was already his third offence of the game. Ben Williams inadvertently allowed Bracknell to gain possession of the puck and the instant consequence was a powerplay Bracknell goal at 22:06, scored by Jon Anderson.

Soon after James Hatfull was returned to the sin bin with 2+10 for checking to the head. For a few minutes the Lions carried out a sustained attack on the Hornets’ goal and Ben Williams redeemed himself by being perfectly positioned to knock in a pass from Andrzej Maslak (a second assist going to Stas Prokofiev) at 32:42. The Lions’ narrow lead didn’t last long as at 33:29 Craig Tribe scored unassisted to equalise once more. A series of well executed passes then provided the Hornets’ Chris Beauclerk with the opportunity to put the home side one goal ahead at 38:41.

Craig Tribe extended the Hornets’ lead at 46:30 with his hat-trick goal, scored as Lions’ netminder George Alley was trying to recover his stick. Assists went to Jon Anderson and Lee Hardy and it was Hardy who then scored himself at 49:24, assists going to Anderson and Tribe. The same combination of players struck again at 57:12, Lee Hardy passing to Craig Tribe who took the puck the length of the ice before Jon Anderson hit it home.

Stas Prokofiev scored for the Lions at 58:01 on a delayed penalty, assists going to Andrew Holdaway and Andy Watt (who’d spent an uncharacteristic 8-mins in the penalty box this game). It was too little too late as Bracknell rounded off the scoring with a goal from Tony Barclay. The assist went to James Galazzi who had inadvertently been handed the puck thanks to a slip-up by Andrzej Maslak.

At 59:08 a scuffle between James Hatfull and Lee Hardy resulted in both players receiving 2-mins penalties but Ben Williams stole the limelight by showering punches onto a cowering Jon Anderson with great gusto. The predictable outcome was a match penalty for Williams while Anderson received 2-mins for roughing.

Referee was Russell-Samways, Linesmen were Hames and Lack.