Johnstown 5  – Boca Rovers 0

A polished display by Johnstown saw them rout Boca Rovers 5-0 at the MDL on Sunday morning, thanks largely to 5 goals from top scorer Arnold Ruksenas.

The home side were eager to put defeat to Muirhavnamor in their last outing 3 weeks ago behind them and went at the visitors right from the off. Inside the first minute, both Pierce Challanger and Wayne Cahill had opportunities to opening scoring but Boca managed to scramble the ball away.

Johnstown’s quick movement and slick passing soon led to the breakthrough. Cahill took possession in midfield and went on mazy dribble which resulted in him being taken down in the box by the last man when through on goal. A penalty was awarded but the expected red card did not materialise and Boca escaped with their full compliment still on the field. With 4 minutes on the clock, Arnold Ruksenas opened the scoring with a firmly struck penalty beyond the keeper’s reach.

Further chances fell to Adam Ivers and Pierce Challenger throughout the first half but Johnstown had to wait until the 42nd minute before they could make their dominance count.

Again Wayne Cahill’s pace and quick feet were instrumental in the creation of the chance. In possession on the left, Cahill ran into the area, dibbling past a number of defenders. When he reached the goal line he pulled the ball back to the closely marked Ruksenas. Using his strength to hold off his marker, Ruksenas turned and fired in his 30th goal of the season.

2 goals in a minute, on the hour mark, put this game beyond the visitors. Both goals were virtually identical. A deep pass out from the back, set Ruksenas free. His pace left the defenders standing. On both occasions, he was through 1 on 1 and just picked his spot, beating the keeper and stretching Johnstown’s lead.

Just 8 minutes later, Johnstown were awarded a free out wide on the their right. Sean Challenger’s perfect delivery was met by the head of Ruksenas who steered it into the net, completing the rout with his 13th goal in the last 5 games and his 33rd goal of the season, reaching the target he set himself in August, with 4 games to spare.

While the front men have grabbed the spotlight, a word of praise is deserved for the defensive unit today. They worked tirelessly, and handled a very dangerous Boca attack with relative ease and merited their hard earned clean sheet today, their first since October.

Johnstown FC Team: G. Baltinas, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), M. Grumley, A. Ivers, S. Challenger,  J. Flynn, P.Challenger, W. Cahill, A. Ruksenas

Subs:P. Dempsey for Flynn, J. Forde for Colton, D. Grumley for S. Challenger.

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 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.

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.