A hat-trick from Luke Huigsloot ensured Clarence Zebras competitive debut was a successful one, as they easily accounted for the Kingborough Lions 4-1 at KGV. The big front man had a day out as he tore the Lions defence to pieces in a dominant showing to secure a first up victory for the newly amalgamated club.
It was the Lions who drew first blood when Kenneth Trac found some room in the box and fired home a rebound to give his side the lead just minutes into the contest. But that would be as good as things got for the Lions, who ceded the lead soon after and never really looked like getting back into the game from that point on.
Matthew Pace, whose lively movement was a constant threat throughout the afternoon took advantage of a big gap at the near post to drive home an equaliser on ten minutes and just moments after that his side would take the lead.
Big Huigsloot grabbed his first of the day with a looping header after a calamitous mix up at the back between the Lions central defenders and the goalkeeper that was akin to something from a Benny Hill sketch, and it surely would have left Lions boss Jez Kenth shaking his head.
Huigsloot then doubled his tally with a wonderful solo goal, beating one centre back and holding off the attention of the other before firing home a bullet with his non preferred left foot that bounced in off the post. It was a goal that summed up the match, the Lions defence simply had no answer for him and their inability to marshal him was the difference on the scoreboard.
The Zebras weren't playing the sharpest football, but they had more than enough about them to look largely untroubled and the moments of individual quality were more prevalent from their players than the Lions, despite some sloppiness in possession at times leading to some dangerous turnovers.
Phil Kantzos and James Hall both showed the ability to get past a man, but once again a lack of end product and a clinical striker stood out for the Lions. It has been an issue for them in each of their pre-season losses and this game was no different. They had a great chance to pull it back to 3-2 and ensure a grandstand finish with Hall, Trac and Khasif all having chances in the final 20 minutes, but ultimately finding themselves denied by some great last gasp shot blocking and a good fingertip save from Reid.
Huigsloot then sealed his treble just moments after the flurry of Lions chances, when he nodded home Ryan Cook's inch perfect cross to make it 4-1 and secure the victory for his side.
In the end it was a comfortable win for the Zebras, but they didn't have to play at an amazing level to achieve it. Huigsloot looks like he could be in for a huge year up top, along with Matthew Pace giving them a dangerous duo in attack, but they will need to be much sharper with their passing in tougher games. The Lions continue to show in patches what they are capable of, but a lack of a cutting edge up top and far too frequent defensive lapses once again proved costly and it leaves them winless from 3 games so far in 2020.