NL Div 2: Lee Valley Lions 7 Slough Jets 6

Lee Valley Lions rallied from being three goals down against Slough Jets to pick up an amazing win at the Lee Valley Ice Centre.

Lions captain Nicholas Alley and Chris Fox each scored two goals and picked up three assists apiece as Lee Valley picked up their second win in three matches.

The Lions were the first on the board as Ben Duffy scored in the third minute, but Slough’s Timo Lindgren found the equaliser five minutes later.

Fox scored his first to put Lee Valley ahead again in the 15th minute and the first period ended with Lee Valley in control.

The dynamic of the match swung around over the next 20 minutes as the Jets dominated the middle period.

Slough captain Rob Johnston scored to put the Jets level once again and then a Daniel Luplau goal, assisted by Johnston and Charlie Connor Dobbins, gave the visitors their first lead.

The match got worse for Lee Valley as they not only failed to take advantage of a powerplay in the 35th minute, but also allowed Slough to score a short-handed goal to move two goals clear.

The third period opened with another goal for the visitors as Lindgren scored again just 37 seconds after the restart.

Now 5-2 down, Lee Valley needed a spark and Alley took the initiative as captain, pulling one back for the East Londoners in the 44th minute.

Slough were determined to quench the rally and Lindgren netted his hat-trick goal just 21 seconds after Alley’s effort to restore the three-goal advantage, 6-3.

But the advantage did not last long as Lee Valley suddenly found their stride, scoring three goals in two-and-a-half minutes.

Alternate captain Robin Young scored an unassisted goal just 17 seconds after Lindgren’s third and Matthew Eggen drew the Lions to within one.

The Jets called a timeout, but it was to no avail as Johnston was penalised for elbowing and Alley scored the equaliser 11 seconds into the Lions powerplay.

With 10 minutes left to play, Lee Valley’s James Gosling was given two minutes in the box for delaying the match and Slough went on the powerplay.

But Fox finished off the amazing turnaround for the Lions as he scored a shorthanded goal, assisted by Alley, and Lee Valley held on to their lead until the final buzzer.

Victory sees Lions move up to fourth place in the National League Division Two South East table, but they are 10 points behind leaders Chelmsford Warriors.

Lions have a break in their schedule now and will return to the ice in the new year when they welcome London rivals Haringey Racers to Lee Valley on January 3.