Additional Comments:

The Lions and their fans endured torrential rain and atrocious traffic in order to play their first game of the 2008/09 season, a challenge against Bracknell Hornets. The weather and 3 hours it took to get home could have been easily forgotten, had the game been worthwhile to watch. Sadly this was not the case.

The Lions came out strong and it looked like an entertaining and closely-fought game was in the making. Deft work by James Scott-Joseph prevented an apparently certain Bracknell goal but Stas Prokofiev was sitting out 2-mins for tripping and just seconds later the powerplay situation allowed James Galazzi to score unassisted at 12:03. Netminder Andrew Boot had worked well but players in front of the net had been undecisive, creating the gap Bracknell needed.

Only one other goal was scored in the first period, that one being credited to the Hornets’ Man of the Match, Ben Duggen, at 15:08. The puck was shot at an extreme angle and sliced past Boot into the corner of the net.

The main damage to the Lions’ pride was done in the second period when Bracknell scored no fewer than six goals. Andrew Boot had taken a pounding, facing no fewer than 34 shots in the first 20 minutes alone. After the Hornets’ sixth goal he was rested in favour of George Alley, whose stirling performance saw him credited as Man of the Match for Lee Valley.

Regardless of netminder agility, you need more than that to see off a barrage of shots from an ever-attacking opposition. The Lions seemed lacklustre at best, clumsy and lazy at other times so it’s no wonder Bracknell took such a massive lead. The only brief respite for Lee Valley came at 30:56 when Michael Ranby scored, assisted by new team member Freddie Trimble. The goal was on a powerplay as Hornets’ high-scoring Ben Duggen was serving 2-mins for elbows.

Nothing in Lee Valley’s defence improved in the third period, allowing Bracknell to put a further four goals past George Alley. Nick Alley, who’d earlier been caught up in some minor fisticuffs with Ross McDougall, made a valiant effort to prevent goal number nine but was unsuccessful.

Bracknell have always been a tricky team to beat, but it was clear that the Lions need to improve speed, drive and stamina, not to mention passing ability, before the league campaign starts.

Referee was Hames, Linesmen were Davies and Davies.