National League Div 2: Lee Valley 4 Chelmsford 5

Lee Valley Lions let a winning lead slip in the late stages of their clash with Chelmsford last night.

The home side were left empty handed after conceding twice in the last four minutes as they fell to a second successive defeat at the start of the new season.

Chelmsford took a fourth-minute lead through Stevie Dunnage’s powerplay goal, but Lions levelled early in the middle period thanks to Theo Abban.

Their joy was shortlived as Courtney Grant put Warriors back in front just 35 seconds later, but Ben Osbourne squared matters for a second time with a Lions powerplay goal.

And Richard Hodge put the hosts 3-2 up soon after, only for Conor Swainsbury to net Chelmsford’s third goal of the game just before the second interval.

The impressive Abban claimed his second of the night to put Lions ahead in the 44th minute and, as Max Gerstein also caught the eye, they looked set for a morale-boosting victory.

But a tripping call against Jack Ball gave Warriors a numerical advantage in the 57th minute, with Stephen Woodford taking advantage to draw the visitors level.

And Swainsbury struck again with less than two minutes left on the clock to complete Chelmsford’s late smash and grab raid.

Man of the match Abban had a late chance to complete his hat-trick and salvage a point for Lions, but Adam Young’s save denied him.

Scorers, Lions: Abban 2 Hodge 1+1 Osbourne 1 Yufit 0+2 Gerstein 0+1 Alley 0+1.

Warriors: Swainsbury 2 Grant 1+2 Dunnage 1 Woodford 1 Wilson 0+2 Staples 0+1 Dervish 0+1 Whiting 0+1.

Shots faced: Aaron Mallet (Lions) 37 Adam Young (Warriors) 32.