Johnstown 4 –  Torro Utd 1

Recent encounters  between this two sides have been rather feisty affairs with 6 red cards in the last 3 meetings. That run continued on Sunday Morning as both sides were reduced to 10 men late on as Johnstown ran out 4-1 winners over Torro United in the O’Neill’s Sportswear Division 1 at the MDL on Sunday morning.

The men from Kilberry settled quickest and should have taken the lead early on only to see their shot pulled across the Johnstown goal and wide. It was a miss they would rue just 2 minutes later.

As Adam Ivers played a corner into the Torro area, captain Darren McQuillan was pushed to the ground. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. There was little doubt who the taker would be, and top scorer Arnold Ruksenas coolly stroked his spot kick into the net giving Johnstown the lead.

With very little separating the 2 sides, it was not until early in the second half either side created real goal scoring chance. Right from the restart, Torro were awarded a free kick out wide. It was crossed into the Johnstown area and met by the head of a Torro defender, up from the back, but he could only direct it straight at Keith Mangan in the Johnstown goal.

Right on the hour mark, the home side doubled their lead. Adam Ivers’ corner was headed into the net by Kacper Zeberek, his 12th of the season, as he rose highest in the crowded area.

With 15 minutes to go, Johnstown made it 3-0. Having kicked the ball out so a player could receive attention, Torro went to return possession to Johnstown. Unfortunately the visiting keeper, who was outside is area misplaced his pass, giving it directly to Adam Ivers. He settled himself and chipped the retreating keeper from 40 yards making it 3-0 to the hosts.

Torro did pull 1 back as the game entered its final 10 minutes. A good move down their right saw them break the Johnstown offside line. The shot was weak but somehow it managed to Squirm under Keith Mangan’s body and into the net.

In the 90th minute, Mangan redeemed himself, with a superb stop from a Torro shot. This stop was the beginning of the move that lead to Johnstown putting the game beyond their visitors.

On as a second half substitute, Shane Conroy took possession just outside the Johnstown area. He brought the ball out of defence and into midfield. With 2 runners to choose from, Conroy picked out the perfectly timed run of Ruksensas who was then clear on goal. Ruksenas scooped the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net making it 4-1, scoring his 10th goal in his last 4 games, bringing his tally to 20 in all competitions this season.

Johnstown FC Team: K. Mangan, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), J. McDermott, A. Ivers, S. Challenger, P. Challenger, W. Cahill, A. Ruksenas, K. Zeberek

Subs: C. Murphy for Colton, J.Martin for P. Challenger, S. Conroy for S. Challenger.

Johnstown 1 – Black Bull 0

After 3 successive defeats in cup and league competitions, Johnstown got back to winning ways with a fine 1-0 win over visitors Black Bull FC at the MDL on Sunday morning.

The home side dominated from the outset and could have been 3 up inside the first quarter of the game. Misses from Kacper Zeberek, Arnold Ruksenas and Wayne Cahill set the tone for much of the match with Johnstown failing to convert a number of chances.

On 27 minutes, Ruksenas chased down what looked a lost cause. His pace enabled him to keep the ball in on the right hand touchline before laying the ball across to his strike partner Zeberek, who having hit the post earlier, made no mistake on this occassion and slotted home to give Johnstown a deserved lead.

It was nearly 2-0 minutes later. Sean Challenger played an excellent long pass to Wayne Cahill on the left wing. His cross was met by a Ruksenas’ overhead kick that the visiting keeper did well to claw out of the top corner.

On the stroke of half time, a long free kick again by Challenger dropped to Ruksenas who unselfishly laid the ball into Zeberek’s path. With his 2nd goal beckoning, Zeberek could only fire straight at the keeper.

The second half began in the same vein. Another chance, again with Challenger instrumental in the build up, went begging as Ruksenas pulled his shot wide of the near post.

Johnstown were very nearly left rueing their missed chances, as on the hour mark, Black Bull almost found themselves level. A cross from their left was met by the head of the front man who, with the goal at his mercy, managed to steer his effort wide.

A mistake mid way through the half was the source of Black Bull’s next effort on goal. A blind pass back by Challenger in mid field allowed Black Bull in again. As Baltinas came off his line, the advancing forward chipped the Johnstown keeper but the ball fell wide, to sighs of relief from the Johnstown bench.

In the final ten minutes, Johnstown’s profligacy in attack continued. Further misses by Ruksenas, Cahill, Zeberek, and Challenger ensured a nervy wait for the final whistle. After 4 minutes of injury time, the referee signalled the end of the game and confirming Johnstown’s 4th league win of the season.

Johnstown FC Team: G. Baltinas, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), J. McDermott, P. Challenger, S. Conroy, W. Cahill, S. Challenger, K. Zeberek, A. Ruksenas

Subs: H. Shivmagal for Conroy, C. Murphy for Ruksenas.

Johnstown progressed in the LMFM Kilmessan Shield with a comfortable 3-1 victory away at Kells/Blackwater on Sunday morning.

Wayne Cahill opened the scoring early on with Arnold Ruksenas doubling their lead just before the interval.

An uncharacteristic lapse by ‘keeper Gintas Baltinas allowed Kells back into the game as Conor Byrne pounced on the dropped ball and poked the ball home.

Johnstown had to weather the storm as Kells sought an equaliser until 5 minutes from time when Ruksenas raced clear, leaving 3 defenders in his wake to calmly roll the ball passed Darryl Murphy in the Kells net securing Johnstown’s place in the next round.

Team: G. Baltinas, J. Colton, J. McDermott, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan, H. Shimangal, S. Challenger, S. Conroy, A. Ruksenas, W. Cahill
Sub: A. Ivers for W. Cahill”

Slane Wanderers 2  Johnstown 5

Johnstown made it 3 wins on the bounce in the O’Neill’s Sportswear Division 1, coming out 5-2 winners over Slane Wanderers  in Slane on Sunday morning.

The visiting team started brightest and deservedly took the lead inside 3 minutes. Arnold Ruksenas was tackled in the area but the ball broke to Obi Pilane outside the box. He made no mistake as he fired his shot into the net, scoring his first senior goal for the club.

It was not long until Slane were gifted an early chance to level the game. Jamie Cassidy was upended in the box by  Jake McDermott leaving the referee little option but to point to the spot. Robert Cassidy took the resulting penalty but could only find the outside of the post, leaving Johnstown’s lead intact.

Slane were back on level terms soon after. A well timed run saw Robert Cassidy beat Johnstown’s line. He rounded the advancing Baltinas and finished from a tight angle.

Johnstown retook the lead in spectacular fashion. On the half hour mark, they were awarded a free kick. Kacper Zeberek dispatched his perfectly placed right footed shot into the back of the net from 30 yards restoring his side’s lead which they held going into the interval.

Slane upped their game in the second half and after ten minutes, deservedly got themselves level again. A free kick was cleared from the Johnstown area but straight to the Slane’s Jonathan McCarthy. His first time shot was deflected over Baltinas’ dive into the net.

McCarthy’s joy at equalising for his side was short lived as on 65 minutes he took Wayne Cahill down for the second penalty of the day. Unlike Slane’s in the first half, this one was duly converted by Johnstown’s Arnold Ruksenas.

With 12 minutes remaining, came 60 seconds that could have swung the game either way. Slane’s Jason Rock charged down Jay Connolly’s attempted clearance. The ball fell to Robert Cassidy who looked set to drag Slane level once again, until he fired over from close range. Baltinas took the goal kick quickly. Zeberek turned away from McCarthy’s despairing tackle on half way. He raced into the area and finished easily across the goal making it 4-2 to the visitors.

The game’s seventh goal came as the match entered stoppage time. Baltinas kicked long to the head of Zeberek. His flick-on went straight to second half substitute Andre Sirb. He finished his strong run by laying the ball across the area for Ruksenas to snatch his second and Johnstown’s 5th of the morning.

Johnstown FC Team: G. Baltinas, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), J. McDermott, O. Pilane, S. Conroy, P. Dempsey, W. Cahill, A. Ruksenas, K. Zeberek

Subs:A. Sirb for Pilane, K. McQuillan for Cahill.

Slane Wanderers: S. Clarke, T. Fleming, M. Tully, J. Gibney, J. McCarthy, J. Cassidy, F. Benhura, R. Finneson, G. Kealy, R. Cassidy, J. Rock

Subs: D. Carolan

Bellow is a video of Kaspers Freekick

Torro Utd 0
Johnstown 3
3 red cards late in the game ensured this match lived up to recent encounters between these two sides, as Johnstown won out 3-0 in another closely fought meeting with Torro Utd in Kilberry on Sunday morning.

It could have been a different story had early Torro pressure yielded the goals their start deserved. Both Andy Tolan and Colm Gilsenan went close for the hosts but neither could find the target.

On 15 minutes, Johnstown punished Torro fully for their missed chances. Sean Challenger won possession in midfield. He passed to Mark Grumley on the Johnstown left who quickly fed Arnold Ruksenas in the left channel. He fired a low cross into Shane Conroy, who tapped in from close range, scoring his first of the season.

Within 2 minutes, Andy Tolan almost had Torro back on level terms. He closed and harried Jake Colton out of possession. Tolan turned but fired over from close range.

In an near carbon copy of their opening goal, Johnstown doubled their lead on 25 minutes. Mark Grumley passed to Ruksenas, playing on the left wing. His power and pace created room for him to cross for Kacper Zeberek who applied the finishing touch from close in.

The alert Ruksenas made it 3-0 in injury time as he robbed a Torro defender on the edge of the area and made no mistake, ensuring a comfortable half time lead for the visitors.

Almost immediately after the restart, Andy Tolan was again through on the Johnstown goal. This time, his effort was on target but Gintas Baltinas in the Johnstown net saved well, denying Torro a foothold in the game.

Just after the hour mark, Kacper Zeberek played in Obi Pilane. Under pressure, Pilane got his shot off but was thwarted by a good save from Conor Cullen in the Torro Goal.

With 5 minutes left, an incident in the area led to a penalty for the hosts. A foot left out late in the direction of Baltinas, prompted the Johnstown keeper to throw the ball at Kevin McKeever. Thus ensued a mass of pushing and shoving resulting in red cards for Jimmy Caffrey (Johnstown), Andy Tolan and Kevin McKeever (both Torro) and a penalty for the hosts.

Once order was restored and having escaped punishment for his involvement in the fracas, Baltinas dived low to his right saving the spot kick, securing Johnstown’s first clean sheet of the season.

Johnstown FC Team: G. Baltinas, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), M. Grumley, J. Flynn, S. Conroy, C. Murphy, S. Challenger, A. Ruksenas, K. Zeberek
Subs: J. Caffery for Murphy, O. Pilane for Flynn, W. Cahill for Conroy.

Johnstown 1 – Athboy Celtic 1

A late equaliser for Athboy Celtic left Johnstown deflated after a game in which they had controlled possession for the majority of this O’Neills Sportswear Division 1 encounter on Sunday morning.

The opening spell saw Johnstown giving a near master class in retaining possession with their crisp accurate passing, leaving the visitors chasing play all over the park. However, despite seeing most of the ball, Johnstown could not create any clear sights of goal.

In fact their first opportunity came from a direct free kick just outside the area. Lee Fahy hit a shot curling into the bottom corner until the firm hand of the visiting keeper turned it wide.

As the half went on, Athboy grew into the game but were largely restricted to hitting their hosts on the break. Indeed twice late on Stephen Mangan was called on to make sure the half remained scoreless. The first of these happened as Athboy shot directly at him but his second intervention came as he reacted quickly, coming of his line and gathering the ball at the feet of an onrushing forward sending the game into the interval at 0-0.

Shortly after the restart, Arnie Luco and Wayne Cahill played a neat 1-2 on the edge of the Athboy area. The tall Johnstown striker strode into the area. With the angle closing on him all the time, Luco fired his shot wide of the far post when a simple square ball to the better placed and unmarked Fahy would have unlocked the defence.

Less than 2 minutes later, Johnstown had a strong penalty appeal waved away. Wayne Cahill, an early replacement for the unfortunate Adam Ivers, ran directly at the defence. As he entered the box, 2 defenders converged on Cahill simultaneously taking him out on either side. Despite the load shouts the referee waved play on.

Johnstown’s reward came just on the hour mark. Athboy Celtic, on a rare sojourn upfield, earned a corner. Jay Connolly emerged from the Johnstown area with the ball at his feet. He picked out Lee Fahy who raced the length of the field. Spotting the excellent supporting run of Wayne Cahill, Fahy played his teammate in, where Cahill finished comfortably, giving his side the lead their play deserved.

With 13 minutes left on the clock, Cahill had the opportunity to clinch the game for his side as he bore down on goal. Rather than picking out either Luco or Fahy, both unmarked in the centre of goal, Cahill fired his shot across the face of goal and wide.

For the final 10 minutes, Johnstown dropped further and further back surrendering a number of chances to Athboy. Some poor finishing combined with some good goalkeeping perserved Johnstown’s lead but it was not to last.

In the final minute, following another defensive clearance, Athboy pumped the ball back upfield. An excellent first touch and instinctive shot on the turn from just outside the box thundered into the bottom corner of Mangan’s net leaving the sides to share the spoils.

Johnstown FC Team: K. Mangan, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), J. McDermott, A. Ivers, S. Conroy, C. Murphy, S. Challenger, L. Fahy, A. Luco

Subs: W. Cahill for Ivers, D. Grumley for Murphy, .