The Lions came within minutes of taking their first point of the season at the title-chasing Romford Fury, but a goal with just over three minutes remaining meant another tough loss for Lee Valley.
There was little to report in a tame first period where the Fury took the lead with one of the few moments of quality, the score-line kept low by the net-minding if Aaron Mallet.
The second period was another story, with great play from both sides and some of the best attacking we’ve seen from the Lions all season.
The Fury went further ahead before the Lions fight-back, but within seconds of the 2-0 goal, Lee Valley burst forward with Phil Carlson shooting and Adam Peach following in the rebound to make it 2-1.
The Lions then went on a lengthy spell of domination; Scott Beeson and Chris Fox both close and Carlson nearly netting after a Beeson shot was parried.
At 37.49 the Lions had a breakaway opportunity and Theo Abban showed great speed and strength to fire in the equaliser, and the Lions came close to taking the lead when Fox hit the outside of the post in the dying seconds of the period.
The Lions couldn’t maintain their pressure in the final session, but appeared to have done enough to have earned that first precious point when a rebound was poked in, just trickling across the goal-line in the 57th minute to give Romford the win that lifted them to second in the league.

So close, but another loss for LVL, but some positives to take into training ahead of next weeks meeting with Bristol – one place ahead of the Lions – at Lee Valley Ice Centre.

Forward lines used from 35 min – end of game
11-9-26
17-10-4
12-9-8 GOAL LVL
11-10-26
17-9-4
——-
11-10-26
17-9-4
12-10-8
11-9-26 pen 9
10-26 SH1
8-17 SH2
11-10-26
17-9-4
12-10-8
11-9-26
17-10-4 GOAL RF
12-9-8
11-10-26
END