Zion FC scored some spectacular goals on their route to a 9-6 victory over Scarletfusion. Four goals for both David Jones and loanee Lawrence, along with a strike from Dan Shotton gave Zion the commanding victory that their performance deserved.
Zion started slowly in humid conditions and found themselves trailing after a decent start by Scarletfusion. The Lions reacted positively and Lawrence was on target twice in the space of a few minutes. First he latched onto a Tony Dain pass to fire home, and then he robbed a hesitant defender and tucked the ball home to give Zion the lead. Perhaps complacency set in as Scarletfusion pegged Zion back with a well worked goal. Steve Winter then performed heroics with some fine saves showing great agility and reactions to often make double and triple saves. Going forward Zion looked potent and Dan Shotton restored their lead with a clinical half volley after David Jones' through ball. Scarletfusion hit back to make it 3-3 before Jones stole the show with two great goals. Steve Winter's long clearance was plucked out of the air by Jones who then smashed the ball on the half volley into the bottom corner of the net. The same combination allowed Jones to slot passed the keeper minutes later. Scarletfusion then scored to make for a nervy half time teamtalk.
The first half entertained the neutral and the second half continued in the same vain. Steve Winter had to be on top form again making several oustabding saves to maintain Zion's advantage. David Jones then cooled the nerves as he bent the ball round the keeper and into the bottom corner for his hat-trick. Lawrence then grabbed his thrid goal of the game when Jones played him through and the rangey striker scrambled the ball home. 7-4 seemed a comfortable scoreline until another Scarletfusion strike had Lion's fans entering squeeky bum time. They could sit rather more comfortably when Lawrence grabbed Zion's eighth goal of the game with a clam finish after good play by Tony Dain. David Jones then hit both posts with another curled effort round the keeper, before he finally grabbed his fourth goal, tapping home after Dan Shotton's powerful shot was parried. A late consolation goal was too little too late for Scarletfusion to mount a serious challenge for Zion's three points. The win was enough to secure the runners up spot in the league and also salvaged Zion's pride as they hope to go one better next season.
The pundits were perplexed at the stadium announcement which bizarrely stated that despite conceding six goals for the second consecutive week, Steve Winter was man of the match. Dan Shotton was keen to explain just why Steve was a worthy candidate for the accolade, "He was brilliant today. His distribution was like I've never seen before as he got two assists. He made some outstanding saves to keep us in the lead and could do little to prevent the goals we did concede. We played well going forward today, perhaps we were a little open at the back but we like to play on the front foot and we always knew we have the capability of scoring more than our opponents." Tony Dain was equally as positive about the performance when he spoke with the media, "We did the job today. A great game for the fans with lots of goals. We were always going to concede today as it was that type of game, but some of our finishing was top drawer and that was the difference between two attacking sides." Steve Winter eventually addressed the media to collect the man of the match award, "I felt I had a good game, as did the rest of the side. Some of the goals were of top quality and it was nice for me to get among the assists today. This result and performance can give us confidence going into the new season." Zion fans hope for more consistency next season as they look to end Deer Park Rangers reign over the league.
