Lee Valley Lions played their first game of 2010 - and were well beaten 10-3 at Chelmsford Warriors.
It was always going to be tough as they were without the services of captain James Hatfull and the injured Ian Courtney.
Chelmsford looked strong right from the off, but the game was fraught with minor penalties which cost the Lions dearly. Phillip Carson was incarcerated in the penalty box, when ex-Lion Ashlee Cave managed to flip the puck over sprawled netminder Robyn Maby to score the home team’s first goal. This was swiftly followed by a second, a straight slapshot courtesy of Lee Hounslow. Maby’s efforts could not be criticised, as she was placed under unrelenting pressure, the Lions’ defence remaining one step behind the Warriors’ co-ordinated attack.
In his first game playing in a Lions’ shirt, ex-Slough man Dave Tyler scored for the Lions on 18 minutes with a powerplay goal that was assisted by Angela Taylor.
Lee Valley limped back on to the ice for the second period and quickly conceded another goal while short-handed. Adam Peach had received two minutes for boarding and Adrian Woodyard capitalised on the situation, his goal assisted by Tom Foskitt.
Goal number four was hit from the blue line by Will Poulston, assisted by Nick Green. Green then took the puck from one end of the ice to the other to score himself, taking advantage of James Scott-Joseph being sidelined for slashing. Craig Metcalf scored with a slapshot, before the perseverance of Angela Taylor and Lee Stobie allowed Andrew Holdaway to score Lions’ second goal at 31:27.
Lee Valley scored their third goal at 47:13, Phillip Carson unassisted, but at 50:06 Chelmsford struck again, their seventh goal coming from man of the match Woodyard.
Chelmsford were awarded a penalty shot at 54:11, as a Lee Valley player was deemed to have thrown a stick, thus preventing a potential goal. Maby held her nerve, closed down the angle and successfully foiled the attempt.
Her heroics between the pipes continued as the shots came thick and fast, but by this time the Lions’ defence seemed to have all but given up. They almost stood back and watched, leaving Daniel Rowen, Ashlee Cave and Hounslow to skate past and score unhindered, taking the final score to 10-3.
Lee Valley Lions have a busy few months ahead, playing at least one game almost every weekend until the middle of March, so the team have plenty of time to improve. The next home game is on January 9 at 4.30pm, when the Lions will take on current league leaders Invicta Mustangs.
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