t was a roaring romp for the Luddesdown Lions as they cruised to 7 -2 victory in their first league game of the season.
The feeling of anticipation in the air was almost tangible at the Mufasa Stadium before the game.
Saturday marked the Lions first match at their newly acquired home ground and they were keen to christen it with a win.
Any feelings of anxiety were soon forgotten however, when in the first five minutes Jamie Jewiss latched on to a mis-hit slice from Alex Matthews, slotting home from close range.
It was a fruitful game for the striker who was at his clinical best, going on to get himself a ten minute hat trick.
The best of which was a sublime lob over the Park Wood keeper, marooned helplessly in his penalty area as the ball bounced into the back of the net.
Manager Ryan Avery had left his team largely unchanged for the encounter.
Tweaking, what appears to be, his now favoured 4-4-2 formation the manager had Marcus Farrell playing up front and Matthews partnering Dominic Chidlow in the centre of midfield.
Elliot Jones returned to centre back and there was also a start on the left-wing for Reece Foxon.
The Lions dominated for majority of the opening 45 minutes, with a robust and organised defensive performance - to match their attacking prowess.
At 3-0 up the homeside were cruising.
However with a little bit of complacency setting in, the visitors were allowed to pull one back before half time.
A red blooded challenge from Liam Fauklin had the ref pointing to spot and Lions roaring in disbelief.
The spot kick was coolly converted by the away team, flustering the Lions in the process.
It took a piece of individual skill from Foxon to restore presence for Avery’s men, with a mazey run and a composed finish making the score 4-1 at the break.
Ever their harshest critics, the Lions came back out onto the pitch, after a fiery team talk, with a point to prove and although Park Wood battled hard they lacked the quality to forge a comeback.
Jewiss snuffed out any hopes of Park Wood revival and put the cherry on his sufficiently large cake by bagging his fourth of the day soon after the break.
This was followed by a classy solo effort from Farell, who used his strength and ability to power past a lack lustre away defence.
The visitors did get a consolation goal with some neat and tidy play on their left wing. The goal didn't quite match up to the build up however, with it bundled across the line.
It was quickly forgotten though, as Foxon nicked the Lions seventh and final goal soon after. A blunder from the keeper allowing him to poke home.
A truer test of the Avery’s men will come against better opposition, of which they are certain to face in the division, but three points from your first game of the season is always a good place to start. And one thing is for sure, there's pride in this team.
Lions Starting XI: Uknown; Clarke, Fauklin, Jones, Norris; Foxon, Chidlow, Matthews, Light; Farrell, Jewiss
Subs: Brady, Uings, Newberry
