Lee Valley Lions

Bracknell Hornets

Goals

Penalties

Lee Valley Lions

Bracknell Hornets

Additional Comments:

For the second clash of the season Bracknell Hornets were taking no chances. They iced a much larger squad than when the two sides last met, this time boosted by ex-Lion Graham Bellamy on defence.

Netminder Stefan Nubert soon came unstuck, allowing Lee Hardy to score the first Hornets goal of the game at 04:14. The Lions responded by taking the puck into the attacking zone and a scramble in front of the net resulted in a goal at 06:21 for Nick Braithwaite, assisted by Paul O’Neill.

A gap in the Lions’ defence allowed Greg Martyn to break away and put an impressive shot past Nubert just 30 seconds later, at 06:51. Bracknell increased the intensity of their attack with a number of concentrated shots at close range. The Lions were fortunate to avoid further misery caused by a number of sloppy errors and Stefan coped well with the pressure.

A little over three minutes into the second period Rob Courtman had a great opportunity to equalise but was thwarted by the Hornets’ netminder, James Skaife. Bracknell Man of the Match, Dan Marashi, had no such difficulties at 25:41 when he scored the Hornets’ third, assisted by Jamie Line and Tony Barclay. Bracknell fans didn’t have long to wait for their team to score again, Craig Tribe taking the honours this time at 30:20. Gavin Jackson replaced James Skaife between the pipes at 32:56, convinced that the 3-goal advantage was worth the risk.

Fists flew at 33:48 between Kwabina Oppong-Addai and the Hornets’ Bradley Watchorn. As soon as the officials’ attention had turned to breaking up the fight another more prolonged punch-up broke out between Matyas Vas and James Galazzi. All players involved received 2+2 for roughing.

Less than a minute later the gloves were off again, this time seeing Darren Wakeling coming to blows with Michael Doble. Both were sent for early showers, receiving 5+Game penalties for roughing.

Dan Marashi opened the final period with a superb unassisted goal at 43:11. Further damage was avoided by Stefan Nubert successfully deflecting a couple of one-on-ones. At 45:08 tempers boiled over for the second time between Matyas Vas and James Galazzi and almost as soon as play resumed it was the turn of Nick Braithwaite and Christian West to brawl.

Braithwaite and West were given time in the sin bin to cool down, each with 2+2 for roughing and 10-mins for misconduct. They watched as Jamie Line capitalised on a Lions error by scoring a well-deserved, unassisted goal for the Hornets at 53:08. This was followed by Matyas Vas scoring for the Lions at 54:49, assisted by Scott Beeson.

As soon as the penalties were spent Braithwaite and Line went back to business, continuing their spat where it had left off. The penalties meant they beat the rest of their team-mates to the showers and with only 46 seconds left the remainder of the game fortunately passed without event.

Referee was Ross, Lines(wo)man was Lack.