Goals

Penalties

Lee Valley Lions

Glasgow Dynamos

Additional Comments:

Our first ever meeting with the Glasgow team (who’d have various names over the years – Dynamos, Saints, Eagles etc) and little did we know two of their players would end up with the Lions – Ali Rodger and import Bill Kirk (he of the infamous spitting episode with Andy Leggatt that led to Glasgow walking off in a future game!). A momentary lapse of concentration in the final period saw the Dynamos level the game, then score the winning goal.

The match saw Bill Watson injured with a deep cut to his chin, caused by a spearing by a Glasgow player which went unnoticed by the officials. His shirt got progressively more blood-stained and although he played the rest of the game he received 5 stitches at the hospital afterwards.

Here’s what was printed in the match programme…

“Tonight we extend a very warm welcome to the Glasgow Dynamos and their supporters to the Lions’ den. This being the first time the Scottish club have paid us a visit we can expect them to attempt to crack the Lions’ unbeaten on home ice record this season. However, the Dynamos have not met with much success so far, having been soundly walloped by the other Scottish clubs in the Bluecol Cup competition and obviously the Lions will attempt to add to their miseries tonight.

“…As a matter of interest the Glasgow ice rink at Crossmyloof, which was built in the late 1920s, has the longest sheet of ice in Britain, being no less than 225 feet. Unfortunately, while there is ample spectator accommodation, the Dynamos do not get the support that one would expect from the Glasgow sport enthusiasts. Perhaps with greater success on the part of the Dynamos the fans will flock in. We at Lee Valley certainly wish our bonnie friends well, but not tonight!

“The two previous weekends saw the Lions away, first at Bournemouth where, in a terrific match, they emerged winners by 5 goals to 4, Bill bagging two and Captain Geoff, Freddie, Ronnie and Simon one apiece. Needless to say, Vesa played an outstanding game in the net. Last weekend, on their visit to Crowtree, way up north in Sunderland, they unfortunately came unstuck, the local ‘Chiefs’ winning 10 goals to 5.

“The following day, Sunday 11th November, saw the lads at Deeside where they really hammered the Dragons by 11 goals to 2. The lost game at Crowtree was the only defeat in league matches played so far. The Lions’ progress has been fantastic, considering that the team was only formed a couple of months ago. Due praise must be given to coach Dave and all his players, a bright future seems now assured.

“The season is well advancing and individual team strengths are becoming apparent. Solihull appear to be the big guns with Peterborough Pirates pillaging aplenty. Nevertheless, our cagey coach, Dave Wurthman, is continuing with his team strategy of careful defensive work where everyone back-checks, covering opponents, on the premise that it’s generally easier to prevent goals than to score them.”

The match programme of 15/11/86 contained a “Blast from the Past” column, written by Peter Cook in which the following was shown for this Heineken Division One game:

Lions’ scorers: Bill Watson 3+1, Alan Sandford 1+1, Geof Williams 1+0, Simon Murray 1+0, Fred Sandford 0+2, Dave Rapley 0+1

“A disappointing end to the game was Lions’ downfall, facing a strong Dynamos side that included present Lions Alastair Rodger and Paul McGarvie, the latter gaining an assist on Dynamos’ fourth goal.

“A slow start saw Lions go in at the first buzzer only 0-1 down, but they came out inspired by a second period Watson hat-trick to lead 6-3 at the second buzzer. Disaster struck in a 132-second lapse midway through the third as Glasgow scored four quick goals (Shields and a Bestle hat-trick) to clinch victory with little time to go.

“The game saw only 8 minutes of penalties called, unusual for games involving Lions and Glasgow!”