Zion FC started their season in spectacular fashion, defeating Ridiculous Beginnings 8-0. A solid performance allowed Zion to dominate the match, with a hat-trick for David Jones, a brace for both Dan Shotton and Tommy Powell, and a goal for Matt Emerson giving Zion their eight goal winning margin.
A slow start to the game was not unexpected with the two sides competing in warm conditions. Steve Winter had a couple of routine saves to make as neither side looked like scoring. That changed half way through the half when Alex Ternouth found David Jones who shimmied past two players before curling his effort into the top corner. The goal settled the Lions who then played some neat football. Tommy Powell found the net latching onto Jones' pass to slide the ball past the keeper. Few chances at either end followed as the match had yet to explode into action.
The second half was when Zion showed their class with some neat passages of play and clinical finishing. Dan Shotton dispossessed a player in red before striking the ball past the keeper. At 3-0 the Lions didn't relent. David Jones struck from distance and found the net after a neat flick by Tommy Powell. The provider then grabbed a goal himself when he robbed a defender and found the net with a cool finish. Jones then sealed his hat-trick when Matt Emerson broke the defensive line latching onto Jones' pass, and when the midfielder ran forward in support Emerson played the ball into his path and Jones tapped the ball home with consumate ease. The two were to combine again for Zion's seventh goal as Jones' found Emerson due to some great movement by Powell. Emerson got the ball out of his feet and struck the ball powerfully from outside the area with his left foot leaving the keeper no chance. Steve Winter was largely redundant in Zion's goal but was more than equal to the half chances Ridiculous Beginnings created. The final goal of the game was scored by Dan Shotton as he once again won his personal battle and raced through to strike the ball into the goal and seal a comprehensive 8-0 victory.
Zion fans were full of optimism after the game but Zion's manager believes that his side have tougher tests ahead of them, especially with title holders Deer Park Rangers next weeks opposition. Tommy Powell: "We did the job today with some nice football and well taken goals. We play some beautiful football at times, but waht was pleasing about today was that we matched the pretty stuff with some solidity and came away with a clean sheet. We have some tough fixtures ahead of us so we can't get carried away with this one result, we need to keep our focus and keep adapting to the different challenges we face. Next week is a massive game and we need to be ready for them." Man of the match David Jones was pleased with the team performance but also chose to focus on ways the side can end their barren run, "We played well today as a team. The clean sheet and eight goals racked up is what we needed but next week will be a different game. We can't be thinking about attacking with as much freedom as we had today, instead we must show far more discipline and focus than we did last time we played them and then we can pick them off with our creative play." The Zion fans will be hoping that impressive displays like today's performance can be repeated over the course of the season, and will be hoping that Zion can defeat their title rivals next week.
