THE LEA Valley Lions endured a gruelling weekend with two league defeats in as many days.

On Saturday, the Lions took on the Chelmsford Chieftains in a home tie. The Chieftains arrived as leaders of the South Two division of the English National Ice Hockey League.

And the visitors produced a display worthy of their place, burying the Lions 12 goals to three. One figure likened the defending to the “parting of the Red Sea.”

The Lions were a depleted force. Missing were Luke Kirkland with an injury, along with Romanas Fedotovas, Chris Wilson and Freddie Trimble. The home side were also getting used to life without Michael Jacobs and Scott Beeson, who have left for pastures new.

But they battled hard in a fast flowing first period and the Chieftains ended it just a single goal ahead atfer netminder Andrew Boot fumbled a shot and was helpless as the puck crept into the net under his boot to put the visitors ahead.

Stas Prokofiev hit back soon after with a slapshot.

Then Stas Prokofiev fired the Lions in front with a stunning goal from a Ruslanas Jegorovas pass. He beat his marker to the near post and tipped the pass over the keeper.

The lead lasted just a minute though, as an un-marked Chieftains forward capitalised on his position to equalise, and then scored again on 15 minutes to grab the advantage.

From then, the Chieftains dominated in the second and third periods, scoring four goals without reply in the second session, and then as many again in the third. Midway through the final period Michael Ranby scored a consolation for the Lions, but the Chieftains scored a brace to complete their victory.

The weekend woes were complete on Sunday, as the Lions went under 6-13 on the Isle of Wight, outnumbered in squad size and out-gunned on the rink by the Vectis Tigers.

The match contributed an answer to the age-old question of which mighty beast is better.

In the first period the Tigers firing in three goals to the Lions one, via Nick Alley.

The second period brought a drubbing for the visitors as they conceded five goals in under four minutes.

Youth netminder Daniel Artis deputised well, forced to pick the puck from the net only twice. At the other end, goals from Ashley Curtin, Nick Alley and Joe Berry, maintained the Lions interest.

The final third saw fisticuffs and Alley sinbinned as a result. The Lions scored two goals to the Tigers three.

Afterwards, a Lions figure blamed the defeated a lack of depth in the squad.

The two defeats mean the Lions sit seventh from nine in the South Two table.