An efficient display from Zion resulted in three valuable points in their quest for Premiership success. Steve Winter, Tony Dain, and Dan Shotton starred as the Lions kept a clean sheet, whilst impressingly defeating their opponents 5-0.
Bike Track Cosmos went into the game boosted with the return of several of their previously absent players. They have contrasting ambitions for the season from the title aspirations that Zion have. While Zion came into the game top of the league, Bike Track were bottom having lost all of their five matches. A cagey opening half saw very little between the two sides. Passing from both teams was often sloppy, however, defensively the match was very tight and combative. The breakthrough came fortuitously on twelve minutes, when Zion won a corner. David Jones played the ball to Dan Shotton on the edge of the area, who's first time shot was tapped in at the back post by Tommy Powell. The game reverted to it's unattractive format with Bike Track limited to hopeful long balls, and Zion struggling to get their passing rhythm going. Steve Winter and his counterpart were forced into a few saves which Winter in particular made look easy. The half drew to a close with both sets of supporters hoping for an improved display of football in the second half.
The improvement didn't really materialise. Bike Track continued to be frustrated by the good form of Tony Dain, Shotton, and Winter, while Zion failed to kick start their attacking fluidity. Long ball after long ball was mopped up by Winter, Dain, and Shotton, and then counter attacks of perhaps over rushed passing ensued. One move that broke that mould resulted in a goal. Shotton played the ball to Jones, who spotted the forward run of Dain. The ball was played into the defenders path, and Dain ruthlessly tucked his left footed strike past the keeper. The two goal cushion heaped more pressure on the Cosmos who commited more men forward as a result. This created more gaps in their defence allowing Zion to break forward and create more goalscoring opportunities. The Lions were gifted with a third, when their defender played the ball straight to Jones who smashed it past the furious keeper. Then another Bike Track blunder saw Zion increase their lead. Powell was bearing down on goal when a tracking defender poked the ball away from the striker, only for it to end up in the net. At 4-0, Zion were in complete control. Winter made two spectacular saves when called upon, but Bike Track really struggled to create the chances they needed to get back in the game. Long range efforts were thwarted time and again by good blocks and great handling from the veteran keeper. A fifth goal seemed inevitable as the Cosmos defence went walkabout. Dan Shotton forrayed forward and unleashed a powerful strike that was only parried by the keeper. Powell was first to react and neatly planted the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal. 5-0 was perhaps flattering, as Zion hadn't been at their best, but despite that they had been the better side of the two and deserved the three points.
Tommy Powell hailed the display of his back three, when he spoke with the media after the game, "It's great to get the win. We weren't at our best going forward today with sloppy passes and perhaps rushed football, but defensively Steve, Dan, and Tony were brilliant for us. They didn't give Bike Track a sniff and that's why they were getting desperate and playing all those long hopeful balls. We tried to play, and created a few chances and scored five. So despite the laboured performance we can be pleased with the result." Man of the match Steve Winter was delighted with his clean sheet, "Bike Track always give us a hard game, they are a combative, in your face team who work hard. Today we defended well and limited them to the occasional long range effort, and I was just glad that I was able to keep a clean sheet which helps our goal difference. That may be crucial come the end of the season." Defender Dan Shotton felt the match was not the best, but believes that winning it is a good sign, "The expression winning ugly could be used for todays match. We know that when we play Bike Track it's not going to be a free flowing game, coz that's not their style. They like to get in our faces and not give us any time on the ball, and then counter attack. Defensively we were solid today and that frustrated them. We know that they have certain spoiling tactics against us and we just take that as a compliment to the way we play. They aren't going to be able to compete if the game is open so it's always going to be about getting in our faces and physically battling, which stiffled our play a bit. Thankfully we had some nice passages of play and took the majority of our chances." Zion will be looking to continue their good run of form against The Dragons next week. The match largely depends on what kind of team turns up for their opponents who have been inconsistent this season.
