Carlisle United's star summer signing wasted little time in making a good first impression last night.
Zach Clough helped himself to a 22-minute hat-trick in the Blues' opening pre-season friendly against Penrith.
The former Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest man showed plenty of his quality as United eased to an 8-0 win against their Northern League hosts.
Clough came on for the start of the second half as boss Chris Beech swapped XIs at the break.
Just four minutes in and the 26-year-old broke away from Penrith skipper Grant Davidson down the left before slotting home smoothly.
That put the Cumbrians 4-0 up at Frenchfield Park.
And on 64 minutes - Clough's 19th minute in a United shirt - he claimed another.
It came from the penalty spot after Clough had been brought down to the right of the box.
A regular spot-kick taker during his career to date, Clough confidently stepped up and sent home keeper Stuart Forrester the wrong way.
Three minutes later, the forward got his third and United's sixth.
Jack Armer was the provider with a positive run down the left, and his cross picked out Clough at the back post to fire home.
It was, all in all, a confident start to life with the Blues for Clough in the first of eight pre-season friendlies for Carlisle before the start of the League Two season.
Tristan Abrahams, another summer signing, also wasted no time in getting off the mark.
He netted after just five minutes in the first half, reacting to an excellent Lewis Bell ball over the top, getting behind the home defence and sending a composed finish across Forrester.
Carlisle were given a scare midway through the half when Penrith's Max Brown went clean through, but young keeper Gabriel Breeze atoned with a good save.
United then added two more late in the first half, Josh Dixon reacting to a Forrester save to drill home, and his fellow Cumbrian midfielder Taylor Charters making it 3-0 with an excellent finish:
The second half saw United step things up, and after Clough's treble, they added two more.
Gime Toure got the seventh after being set up by Clough.
And last season's top scorer Jon Mellish made it eight late on after some nimble footwork from...you guessed it, that man Clough.
Reason, then, for United boss Chris Beech to be satisfied with his side's first pre-season run-out.
More testing friendlies no doubt lie ahead, but the Cumbrians won't complain at the start made by their new faces - and the sight of ball hitting net so often.
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