Lee Valley Lions tamed by Wildcats
Lee Valley Lions captain Nick Alley competes for a face off (pic: Patrick Ayling) - Credit: Archant
Lee Valley Lions 2 Swindon Wildcats 5
Lee Valley Lions came up short in their season opener in the National League Division Two South East cup at Lea Bridge Road last night.
The east London club began the 2016/17 campaign with renewed optimism under coach George Alley, but fell behind in the seventh minute as Adam Coakley put 12-man Swindon ahead.
Stuart Widdows made it 2-0 with just over nine minutes played, but a hooking penalty against Daniel Pettitt gave Lions the chance to open their account on the powerplay through captain Nick Alley.
Outshot by an 18-8 margin during the first period, Lions kept themselves in the hunt in a scoreless middle period, despite seeing Swindon dominate the shot count 12-7.
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Jordan Smith put Wildcats 3-1 up with just over 11 minutes remaining, though, and added another goal on a powerplay after Alley was called for tripping.
Lions hit back through assistant captain Matthew Hepburn in the final minute, before debutant goalie James Andrew was removed for an extra skater in the closing stages.
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But the gamble backfired as Coakley fired into the empty net for Swindon’s fifth goal of the night to complete the scoring.
Sam Awoyemi took the man of the match award for Lions, who were outshot 47-21 over the course of the 60 minutes.
Alley’s men are set to host Slough Jets in their first league match of the new season on Saturday, September 10 (5.30pm start).
Scorers, Lions: Matthew Hepburn 1 Nick Alley 1 Ben Gillingham 0+1.
Wildcats: Adam Coakley 2 Jordan Smith 2 Stuart Widdows 1 Loris Taylor 0+2 Andrew Coakley 0+1.
Penalty minutes: Lions 6 Wildcats 8.
Shots on goal: James Andrew (LV) 18-12-17=47-5 Graeme Bird (S) 8-7-6-21-2.
Lions: Simon Geldart, James Hepburn, Chris Fox, Henry Aiken, Simon Jones, Ben Duffy, Matthew Eggen, Sam Awoyemi, Matthew Hepburn, Nick Alley, Joe Weare, James Gosling, Ben Gillingham, James Joseph, Oliver Glover, Robin Young, James Andrew (G), Jordan Turner.
