The Lions were looking to finish what has been a very mixed 2013 on a high but faced a tough journey to Cambridgeshire, to face a Peterborough Islanders side who had already won at Lea Bridge Road this season. The Pride of East London have improved considerably since and were confident ahead of the clash. Missing for the fixture were George Alley, Bailey Wooton and Jarvis Mewett.
First Period: The first period was a close affair with the shot count very even. The Lions weren’t able to beat Simon Price in the home net though, and later into the session it was Steven Maile (15:49, assist Turley) who put the hosts ahead. Lee Valley weren’t able to pull a goal back and ended the period short-handed as Joe Berry sat two minutes late on for Roughing.
Second Period: Lee Valley came quickly out of the blocks and their efforts were rewarded as the Islanders’ discipline began to falter. As Connor Hunter sat a cross-checking penalty, the Lions scored their first of what would be three powerplay goals through James Hepburn (24:22, assists Fedotovas and Hatfull). 59 seconds later, while Dale Jowett was in the box, Joe Berry (25:21, assists Gosling and Yufit) was put through to edge the Lions ahead. The Islanders continued to take penalties, the man advantage showed on the shot count and the pressure eventually told when Berry (33:03, assists Cave and Yufit) doubled the visitors’ lead. Peterborough didn’t give up though, as Maile (33:56, assists Lazenby and Cleves) got his second to end the period 3-2 to the Lions.
Third Period: Tensions ran high in this stanza with both sides taking penalties, but the Islanders were quick to tie the game up as Maile (40:30, assist Perkins) got his hat-trick. It all boiled over when a scramble in front of the net eventually found Gennadi Yufit coming to blows with Dale Jowett with both sitting 2+2 for Roughing. Only a moment later Connor Hunter was penalised for Slashing and soon after Lee Valley were ahead again, Fedotovas (50:16, assist Hepburn) taking advantage of the home side’s lack of discipline again. As the period wore on, the Lions’ fatigue saw Berry and Hepburn sit late penalties and in the dying moments, Peterborough pulled their goalie for the extra man but couldn’t grab a goal despite their 6-on-3 advantage. In the end the Lions prevailed, picking up their fourth win of the season and fourth win in 2013.
Having started the year so despondently, the Lions look to pick up where they left off this year with a win at Chelmsford on January the 5th.
We also hope to announce a new signing in time for the new year, so make sure keep up with us over the festive period on Twitter and Facebook.
The Lions’ Management would like to thank you, the fans, for your support this year and wish all those involved with the club a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Match Stats
Period Scores Peterborough 1-0/1-3/1-1
Shots on Goal: On Price (P’boro) 40, On Mallet (LV) 27
Penalties in Minutes: Peterborough 26 – 16 Lee Valley
Scorers: Lee Valley – Joe Berry (2+0), James Hepburn & Romanas Fedotovas (1+1), Gennadi Yufit (0+2), Ashlee Cave, James Hatfull & James Gosling (0+1).
Peterborough – Steven Maile (3+0), Alex Cleves, Thomas Perkins, Josh Turley & Craig Lazenby (0+1)
Man of the Match: Peterborough – Steven Maile, Lee Valley – Nick Alley