Oxford Rising Stars 8 – 3 Lee Valley Lions

Match report from Ian Dibley

Oxford Rising Stars vs Lee Valley Lions. Saturday 14th December 2024

With Christmas just over the horizon, the Rising Stars entertained Lee Valley Lions in their last game of 2024. Stars started the game, looking like they had had too much Christmas spirit as they gifted their visitors an early goal. With just over 3 ½ minutes gone Ross Hidge cut in from his right and fired the puck past Stars netminder Kayla Poole as she struggled to adjust her position to make the save. Penalties were called on both sides and it was one of those that Lee Valley and Hidge doubled their tally. It was Lee Valleys Captain Matthew Hamilton who sat in the Sin Bin as Hidge broke from his own half to score on the short-handed play. Stars nearly scored in the dying seconds of the period when a Joe Edwards effort “pinged” off the outside of the goal frame.

What ever was said in the Oxford locker room, together with some line changes, saw Oxford come out and dominate the second period. Within 9 minutes they had the lead. Firstly, Josh Oliver netted after good work from Sam Arnold and Edwards. An Ed Crotty finish after Stars defenceman James Eldridge found him with a nice pass tied it up at 2-2. Stars took the lead when Mike Whillock scored with the assist going to Theo Bundock. Lee Valley used their Time Out and whatever was said, had the desired effect as the lead was short lives as within 30 seconds the visitors were back level. This time the experienced Seb Dowling finishing top shelf. With 4 minutes left in the period the home side regained the lead when Whillock scored his second, with Bundock, again getting the assist. The hosts outshot the Lions by 4:1 in that 2nd period.

Stars once again stamped their authority on the game in the 3rd stanza. Three goals in 4 ½ minutes in the middle of the period, saw Oxford ease out their lead. Firstly, the hard-working Chris Beckett netted with another Edwards assist. Whillock completed his hattrick with Bundock getting his 3rd set up for Whillock. Crotty then doubled his goals in the game. The final Stars goal was scored by Oliver with Edwards chipping in his 4th assist of the game.

Lee Valley came into the game with a gameplan, that they executed well in the first period. Oxford countered this with those changes made in the first interval and ran out worthy winners. During the course of the game Ed Crotty passed 50 points in his Rising Stars career.