Johnstown 5 Square Utd 1

With 5 different players getting on the score sheet,  Johnstown earned their first win this season’s O’Neill’s Sportswear Division 1 campaign with a 5-1 win over Square Utd at the MDL on Sunday morning.

The home side dominated much of the play in the opening stages, seeing their quick passing and movement just failing to open up the opposition’s defence.

The scoring was opened as the returning Kacper Zeberek used all his strength to hold off a number of defenders as he hooked a bouncing ball in the box passed Jamie Rooney in the Square net. A goal their play deserved.

That goal spurred the visitors into action and they came close to finding an equaliser. Paddy Sheridan broke through the back line but could only fire straight at Keith Mangan in the Johnstown goal.

Within a minute, Lee Fahy had doubled his side’s lead. Zeberek blocked an attempted clearance close in. The ball fell to the Johnstown left winger who calmly lited the ball into the net passed 2 covering defenders.

It was almost 3-0 just before half time as Darren McQuillan rose highest on the 6 yard line to meet a Justin Flynn corner, his header whistling wide of the back post.

Straight after the restart, Johnstown again had a chance to score a 3rd. Lee Fahy, whose direct running caused Square problems all morning, ran through leaving him 1-on-1, Rooney again coming to his side’s rescue.

On the hour mark, Square Utd pulled themselves back into the game. A quick break, and a well timed run saw Andrew Eagan though on goal. With a cool head, he tucked his finish away passed Mangan in the Johnstown goal.

There ensued a period of nervousness from Johnstown after this goal and Square Utd very nearly got back on level terms. A corner was played into the area where it was met by the head of Jake Stewart, directing the ball off the bar and away.

With 20 minutes to go, Jay Connolly strode out of defence with the ball at his feet. He played a short ball into Zeberek’s feet who got a quick shot away that flicked off the outside of the post with keeper scrambling across the goal.

3 goals in the final 10 minutes  put a slight gloss on the score line that was harsh on the visitors.

The first of these came from the foot of Craig Murphy. Having gone close earlier in the game, Murphy made no mistake as he latched onto a fine through ball from his midfield partner, beating Square’s rearguard, before firing the ball passed Rooney into the roof of the net.

With the 2 goal cushion restored, Johnstown became more relaxed and decisive in position. Just 2 minutes later, another direct run by Lee Fahy set up Justin Flynn, who needed 2 bites of the cherry making 4-1, securing the points for his side.

The scoring was not finished there, though. A late substitute, Wayne Cahill added a fifth, his second in 2 games, in injury time. Shane Conroy played the ball on to Zeberek who turned and fed the ball through to Cahill. Through one on one, he made no mistake, completing the rout 5-1.

Johnstown FC Team: K. Mangan, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), M. Grumley, J. Flynn, S. Conroy, C. Murphy, S. Challenger, L. Fahy, K. Zeberek

Subs: J. Caffery for Grumley, O. Pilane for Flynn, W. Cahill for Fahy.