Lions let leaders off hook

National League: Lee Valley 3 Peterborough 3

Lee Valley Lions had to settle for a hard-earned point against Division Two leaders Peterborough last night.

Two goals from Nick Alley, either side of a James Joseph effort, helped Lions into a 3-1 lead after two periods against the Islanders.

But the visitors cut the gap with a powerplay goal, with 10 minutes remaining, and earned a share of the spoils with a shorthanded effort with 6:25 left on the clock.

Lions got off to a roaring start as Alley opened the scoring with only 35 seconds played.

And the home side doubled their advantage later in the first period with a powerplay goal from Joseph, after Peterborough’s Connor Hunter (charging) and Bradley Moore (cross-checking) were penalised to hand Lions a spell of 5-on-3.

Lions killed off a boarding penalty against Romanas Fedotovas before the interval, but Peterborough halved the deficit with a goal from Conor Pollard just before the midway mark.

Alley restored Lee Valley’s two-goal cushion with another powerplay strike, after Joshua Turley was called for roughing.

But an interference minor against Chris Fox gave Peterborough the chance to pull to within one goal again as Hunter netted during the man advantage.

And although the visitors lost former London Raiders forward Shaun Yardley to a 5+game penalty for high sticks, they netted a shorthanded equaliser through Alexander Cleves to ensure honours finished even.

Lions are back in action next Sunday (February 8) when they travel to Chelmsford Warriors for a clash that begins at 6.30pm.

Scorers, Lions: Alley 2 Joseph 1 Hepburn 0+1 Fox 0+1 Fedotovas* 0+1 Robinson 0+1.

Peterborough: C Pollard 1+1 Cleves 1 Hunter 1 Moore 0+3 N Pollard 0+1.

Penalty minutes: Lions 20 Peterborough 45.