Lee Valley Lions lose double-header with champions Peterborough

Lee Valley Lions slipped to defeat against National League Division Two South East champions Peterborough in their final home match of the season last night.

Craig Wallis put the visitors ahead after nine minutes, with Nathan Pollard adding a second on the powerplay after Oliver Glover was binned for slashing as Lions were outshot 25-8 in the first period.

The home side hit back in the middle period with a goal from Lee Hounslow to halve the deficit, but their joy was shortlived as Sam Barlow restored Peterborough’s two-goal cushion just 40 seconds later.

A cross-checking penalty against Jack Sansby gave Lions their first powerplay chance of the game early in the final period, but then fell further behind as Kenny Bavin scored a shorthanded fourth for the Islanders.

Connor Hunter completed the scoring during a spell of 4-on-4 with just over nine minutes remaining as Lions were outshot 53-32 overall.

Henry Aiken was named man of the match for Lions, who visit Chelmsford next Sunday and face further away fixtures at Haringey (March 25), Slough (April 8) and Chelmsford again (tbc) before the end of the campaign.

Scorers, Lions: Lee Honslow 1 Simon Jones 0+1.

Peterborough: Craig Wallis 1+1 Nathan Pollard 1 Sam Barlow 1 Kenny Bavin 1 Connor Hunter 1 Nathan Long 0+1 Kieran Raynor 0+1 Conor Pollard 0+1 Deivid Cetvertak 0+1 Connor Stokes 0+1 Taylor Romeo 0+1.

Penalty minutes: Lions 10 Peterborough 8.

Shots on goal: James Andrew (LV) 25-13-15=53-5 Dan Lane (P) 8-12-12=32-1.

*Lions had made their second trip to Peterborough in the space of a week on Saturday and saw Deivid Cetvertak give the champions a seventh-minute lead.

Ross Sin-Hidge hit back to level just 93 seconds later, but Peterborough regained the lead towards the end of the first period through Jack Escott.

Oliver Glover claimed the only goal of the middle session to get Lions back on terms again, but Nathan Pollard put Peterborough 3-2 up early in the final period.

A tripping call against Connor Hunter gave Lions a powerplay chance soon after and they needed just nine seconds to convert through Matt Hepburn to make it 3-3.

A delay of game minor penalty against Craig Wallis gave the visitors another man advantage with just under 10 minutes remaining, but Peterborough took the lead for a fourth time while shorthanded as Hunter beat James Andrew.

Cetvertak’s second goal of the game sealed a 5-3 win for the Islanders as they extended their 100 per cent record to 17 matches.

Scorers, Peterborough: Deivid Cetvertak 2 Nathan Pollard 1+2 Jack Escott 1 Connor Hunter 1 Conor Pollard 0+2 James White 0+1 Craig Wallis 0+1 Dan Lane 0+1 Kenny Bavin 0+1 Joe Wilson 0+1.

Lions: Matt Hepburn 1+1 Oliver Glover 1+1 Ross Sin-Hidge 1 Henry Aiken 0+1 Lee Hounslow 0+1 Nick Alley 0+1.

Penalty minutes: Peterborough 18 Lions 8.

Shots on goal: Dan Lane (P) 10-10-11=31-3 James Andrews (LV, 59.20) 18-20-15=53-5 Empty net (0.40).