Zion FC sensationally overcame their latest test with a resounding 10-0 victory over Ridiculous Beginnings. Five goals for David Jones, a brace each for Alex Ternouth and Tommy Powell, and a Dan Shotton strike gave Zion the three points that keeps their title hopes on track.
The Lions were aware that Deer Park Rangers were on their tails before kick off, and they needed a victory to maintain their three point advantage. It didn't take long for them to get down to business. David Jones struck home after numerous thwarted opportunities for the men in their changed white strip. Tommy Powell was next to strike after some good passing. The Lions were in complete control of possession and created chances almost at will. Beginnings were trying hard, but their was a gulf in class as Zion were not messing around and their determination to win was well rewarded. The rare breakaway for Ridiculous Beginnings was well managed defensively, with stand in goalkeeper Paul Muzzall organising his defence well and making some decent saves when called upon. David Jones made it 3-0 before the break to give Zion a degree of comfort going into the interval.
The second half saw Zion really turn the screw as they looked to improve their goal difference. Alex Ternouth was first to strike profiting from some nervous defending. Mistakes by the Beginnings players were inevitable as Zion's pressure when closing down their opponents was much improved. Tommy Powell found the net with a neat finish to make it five, before another defensive error gifted David Jones his hat-trick, as he simply slided the ball in to add to the Lions advantage. Jones then made it seven, and his 300th in a Zion shirt with another poachers goal. Despite the huge margin between the sides Beginnings never gave up, and Paul Muzzall had to be alert to make a terrific double save to keep them out. At the other end Alex Ternouth struck home to add another, before Dan Shotton got himself on the scoresheet with an efficient finish. David Jones finished the scoring after a great team move saw the ball bounce kindly for him, and he smashed it home to make the score 10-0. A great win for the Lions went down well with their faithful support who were still confident that Zion could bring home the silverware this season.
David Jones was first to be summoned by the media, and he was keen to stoke the fire ahead of the big clash with Deer Park Rangers next week, "Results like this can give us great confidence going into the game next week. We know that if we play to our potential like we did today, we are very difficult to stop. The form book goes in our favour for next week, they have looked pretty average in recent weeks." Stand-in goalkeeper Paul Muzzall was pleased to have kept a clean sheet, whilst he expressed his pleasure at watching some great football, "It is brilliant to watch the football the lads play, they really know how to entertain. They put in a shift defensively too which helped me keep the clean sheet, which I am obviously delighted with." Manager Tommy Powell then emerged from the changing rooms and was keen to keep his side focused, "We go into each game fully focused on the task we have in front of us, and credit to my players we continued to show that today. It would have been easy to under-estimate our opponents and have half an eye on next weeks clash, but we didn't do that and that is why we won so convincingly. Now we have ourselves in a great position, we are in top by three points ahead of the big one next week. We have the edge and a win next week would really hammer that home, but it is upto the boys, if they have the desire and put in the work, we can open up a huge advantage in the league." Zion fans have long awaited the opportunity to win the league again, and a win next week against Deer Park Rangers would put that dream well within their sides' reach.
