Tannahill certainly didn’t look like a team who hadn’t played a competitive match in two months as they demolished a shell-shocked Moorpark side with their skill and endeavour right from the first whistle.

The fine performances ran throughout the team but none more so than Matt Gribben. The big forward had a terrific match, capped by a hat-trick and a possible candidate for goal of the season to boot. His first strike was sublime, showing his battling qualities to win the ball then compose himself before firing a left foot shot into the top corner from 25 yards.

Tannahill’s control of this match was so great, that the Tans centre backs Calum Muirhead and John McNab could have disappeared to the snack bar outside the new changing rooms at KGV for a nice bacon roll without anyone noticing. As it was, they gobbled up the little attacking threat offered by Vics and watched on as the Tannahill strikers devoured their opposite numbers with Thomas Robertson hungriest of all.

Before Gribben's super strike, Robertson had already helped himself to his first of four goals to start the rout after just five minutes. A long kick out from Craig Glen was flicked on by Gribben into the path of Robertson who clipped the ball over the advancing keeper before calmly slotting home.

The third came midway through the half. The lively Ross Martin made his way down the left then hung up a terrific cross to the back post for Robertson to knock down into the path of Frazer Martin who lashed home from 6 yards.

Frazer Martin then returned the favour for fourth goal, evading a couple of challenges on the right before heading for the bye line and cutting back for Robertson. He cleverly cut inside the defender on to his right foot and smashed the ball into the roof of the net from six yards. Tans made it five before half time when Frazer Martin ran on to a pass down the inside right channel then slid a shot across the goalie and into the far corner from 12 yards.

Tans could have been further ahead at half time, with Gribben going close and Paul McAlinden forcing a good save from the keeper.

HALF TIME 0-5

Into the second half and Tans could have been forgiven for taking their foot off the gas a little and for the first part of the half this was the case. Vics pulled a goal back from a debated penalty, with Glen just failing to keep the spot kick out despite getting a hand to it.

This seemed to wake Tans up again and they added another four goals in the last 25 minutes. Robertson converted a bouncing ball from 12 yards to claim his hat trick then Gribben notched his second when he was sent clear on the left before making his way into the box and beating the keeper at his near post.The big striker then claimed a well deserved hat trick firing a powerful angled drive high into the net from 15 yards. The scoring was completed with a low drive from Robertson.

A perfect way to get back into the swing of things after the enforced winter shutdown, but I fear, not many of Tans remaining fixtures will be as straightforward as this.

Tannahill (4-4-2)
Glen, Millar, Campbell (Burns), McNab, Muirhead, Watt (Morrison),
McAlinden, R Martin, F Martin, Gribben, Robertson