Lee Valley Lions

Bracknell Hornets

Goals

Penalties

Lee Valley Lions

Bracknell Hornets

Additional Comments:

Lions’ first game of the 2007/08 season saw them make the trip up the M4 to visit the Bracknell Hornets. Holidays meant the Lions were missing the likes of Michael Jacobs and Stas Prokofiev, but making their senior team debuts were a number of former Junior Lions – Theo Abban and Ruairi Teahan among them.

The predominantly young and sparse squad had to square up to an experienced Hornets side that had its full compliment of 22 players (9 more than the Lions). In the first period the Lions met the challenge admirably. American Scott Pollak was first to make a mark, but not for the right reason. He got a 2-mins spell in the penalty box for Holding after just 27 seconds of the game had elapsed. The Lions held their own and the score stayed at 0-0.

As the period continued Lions had a number of chances but were thwarted by a solid Bracknell defence. The one time a Lions shot went in the goal it earnt its shooter, Joe Berry, a 10-mins misconduct penalty. The reason given was because Berry hit the puck after the whistle had been blown, yet the offside call had been wrong.

George Alley, last season’s back-up netminder, faced increasing pressure around his net but his performance was nothing less than outstanding and he was the deserving Man of the Match winner. The crunch came at 11:48 (the game sheet does not give a clear time) when the puck slid across the front of the net and into the corner, earning Dan Hughs his first point of the game. Nonetheless, the first period ended with no further goals, Alley having successfully deflected no fewer than 21 shots.

The 2nd period commenced and it only took the Hornets a couple of minutes to double their score as James Galazzi flipped the puck into the top left corner. This was swiftly followed by Chris Beauclerk scoring at 24:22, the assist going to Stuart Brian.

Not to be outdone Scott Beeson got on the scoreboard for the Lions just seconds later at 24:56, admirably assisted by Romanas Fedotovas and Michael Ranby. 12 minutes in and the Lions were deprived of a second goal as a shot from Michael Ranby skidded across the goalmouth and just over the line. Lee Valley fans had a better view of proceedings than the officials but the goal was nonetheless declared void.

Despite the disappointment the Lions continued to battle on, but Bracknell’s fourth goal arrived at 33:17. Viewing the game from the far end, George Alley appeared to have stopped the shot between his knees but the puck managed to get through to gain Steve Cameron an unassisted goal.

With less than two minutes left in the second period it looked as if Bracknell were on their way to a fifth goal as an error by Romanas Fedotovas in front of the goal gained Hornets a close-up scoring opportunity. George Alley was still on the case, however, and the attempt was thwarted.

Just four minutes into the final period Romanas Fedotovas had the opportunity to show what he’s made of by taking the puck from one end of the ice to the other, successfully negotiating each Hornet on his way. He wrapped the puck around the goal but his efforts were in vain as netminder Matt Cameron stopped it in its tracks.

A thumping shot from Michael Plenty at 55:35 secured the Hornets their fifth goal, then a pass in front of the net followed by a strong shot from Matt Ovenden gave the Hornets their sixth at 57:31. Bracknell weren’t finished yet as Craig Tribe scored a seventh at 58:13 before Dan Marashi nabbed a similar goal, shot at short range at 59:36.

Officials were Hayden and Meekison.