Johnstown 11

Slane Wanderers 1

Johnstown comfortably saw off bottom side Slane Wanderers 11-1 despite horrendous conditions in the O’Neills Sportswear Division 1 at the MDL on Sunday morning.

Despite playing into driving rain and a strong wind, the home side opened up a four goal lead by half time. In fact, Johnstown could have been 2 up by the time the 1st goal arrived on 12 minutes, a wonderful individual effort by Pierce Challenger. Having been played in by Jay Colton, Challenger then beat 3 Slane defenders in the area with his quick feet and close control, before curling his left foot shot passed the keeper.

Slane almost got back on level terms soon after. An inswinging corner, assisted by the strong wind, sailed over Baltinas in the Johnstown net. The visitors would have been level but for the head of Jay Colton clearing off the line at the far post.

Johnstown doubled their lead midway through the half. Pierce Challenger, a handful on the right all day, left 3 Slane players in his wake as he fed the ball into Arnold Ruksenas. His shot was saved but not held by the keeper and Kacper Zeberek was on hand to bundle the ball over the line.

It was 3 nil just after the half hour. Another excellent move down the right, started by Jay Colton passing to Pierce Challenger. A quick one-two with Zeberek, saw Challenger in space where he laid the ball across the area for Rusenas to claim his first of the day.

Challenger made it 4-0 after 40 minutes when he met a Jay Colton corner at the back post, heading in his second of the day.

It did not take Johnstown long in the second half to further increase their lead. Sean Challenger played in Kacper Zeberek whose strong run saw off a number of defenders before squaring to Ruksenas to make it 5-0.

60 seconds later, Ruksenas completed his hat-trick. Wayne Cahill drove at the heart of the Slane defence before playing in Ruksenas to score his 15th goal in all competitions this season.

It was 7-up for Johnstown on the hour as regular centre back Jay Connolly, having been moved into midfield following a couple of substitutions, ran on to a through ball from Zeberek. Showing all the composure of an experienced goal scorer, Connolly picked his spot and curled his shot in passed the Slane net minder.

2 goals in 60 seconds made it 9-0 to the hosts with 20 minutes to play. Ruksenas scooped his pass forward to Zeberek who raced clear. Through with a 1-on-1 with the keeper, Zeberek chose unselfishly to pass to substitute Dylan Byrne, who gratfully accepted the gift and tapped in his first of the season.

The second of these quick fire goals saw Zeberek grab the second of his day. Shane Conroy played the ball forward to Zeberek. Still with a bit of work to do, he beat 2 defenders before dispatching an unstoppable shot into net.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Zeberek made it 10-0. Pierce Challenger held off a number of defenders before feeding Zeberek. As he tracked across the edge of the box, Zeberek pulled his shot back across the goal and into the bottom corner, becoming the second Johnstown player to nab a hat-trick.

Johnstown’s 11th came with 5 minutes left. Dylan Byrne took possession just outside the centre circle. He took a few steps forward before dispatching an unstoppable 35 yard shot that sailed in over the keeper.

Slane’s consolation goal came with nearly the last kick of the game as they raced through beating Johnstown’s offside line before finishing passed Baltinas.

Next up for Johnstown, is a short journey to Premier Division side Kentstown Rovers in the Kilmessan Shield on Thursday night.

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: J. Forde for McQuillan, C. Murphy for S. Challenger, D. Byrne for McDermott.