Lions Roar to Big Bristol Win Before Narrow Swindon Heartbreak
Road Trip — The Highs and Lows
The Surrey Lions hit the road for a double-header weekend, facing Bristol on Saturday night before taking on Swindon Storm on Sunday, and returned home with plenty of positives after two vastly different contests.
The trip began in Bristol, where the Lions gradually tightened their grip on the game after a cautious opening. A solitary Surrey goal separated the sides at the end of the first period, and with neither team able to find the net in the second, the contest remained delicately poised heading into the final 20 minutes.
What followed was an explosive display of attacking hockey from the visitors.
The Lions produced a third-period masterclass, firing in eight unanswered goals to turn a close encounter into a commanding 9-0 victory. The result also secured another well-earned shut-out for netminder Mike, who was rock solid whenever called upon.
Jason Marsland led the charge with a superb hat-trick, while birthday boy Ben Schooling celebrated in style by matching the feat with three goals of his own. Andy Price, Hayden Barwick and Philip Dobson all got on the scoresheet to complete an emphatic win and send the travelling Lions supporters into the night in high spirits.
And celebrate they did.
However, despite the festivities lasting long into the evening, the Lions knew a far tougher challenge awaited them the following day in Swindon. The Storm arrived as familiar opposition and the Lions were eager to avenge their previous 7-5 defeat at the Spectrum.
What unfolded was a fiercely contested battle between two evenly matched sides.
Swindon struck first in the opening period, but the Lions responded well and battled their way back into the contest. By the end of the second period, the scores were locked at 2-2, setting up a thrilling final chapter.
Surrey edged ahead in the third and looked set to claim a memorable victory, but the Storm showed their quality, levelling the game before finding the decisive goal with just two minutes remaining on the clock.
It was a painful way to lose, but the Lions could take enormous pride from their performance against one of the toughest teams they have faced this season.
Philip "Dobbo" Dobson continued his excellent run of form, scoring twice, while Glyn Leighton added the Lions' third goal in a superb team effort.
Although the weekend ended in disappointment, the road trip provided plenty of reasons for optimism. A dominant shut-out victory, a battling performance against elite opposition, and valuable experience gained across two challenging away fixtures made it an enjoyable and rewarding weekend for everyone involved.
The Lions may not have returned with a perfect record, but they certainly returned having shown the character, skill and spirit that continue to drive the team forward.