Johnstown 8

Torro Utd 1

The last 3 Thursday night games featuring Johnstown have produced 24 goals. This week that high scoring continued as Johnstown demolished visitors Torro Utd 8-1 in the O’Neill’s Sportswear Division 1 encounter at the MDL.

 

On 13 minutes Wayne Cahill, in a rich streak of form, dribbled through the Torro rearguard. Having looked as though he had taken it a bit too far, a lucky ricochet at the end saw him through 1-on-1 with the keeper with time to pick his spot and open the scoring.

 

Just 4 minutes later, Johnstown doubled their lead. Pierce Challenger tried to place his 20 yard shot past the Torro net minder who managed to get a strong hand to it but could only parry it into the path of the on rushing Adam Ivers. With the keeper still on the turf, Ivers calmly lifted the ball over him into the net.

 

It was not all one way traffic and mid way  through the first half Torro had 2 guilt edged chances to find a foothold in the game. A brilliant diving header at the back post and close range shot could easily have produced a goal but for the excellent reactions and positioning of Dylan Byrne in the Johnstown net.

 

On the stroke of half time the hosts went 3-0 up. Kacper Zeberek nodded on a high ball to the ever eager Cahill. His low shot was pushed out by the Torro custodian but straight to Pierce Challenger who fired into the net.

 

The second half continued in much the same vein with early chances for Arnold Luco and Pierce Challenger but neither could find the net, until on the hour, Luco made it 4-0. A move that started with left back Jake McDermott, allowed Cahill to turn and sprint away from his marker. With time and space, Cahill picked out the run of Luco in the area. His powerful cross was deftly turned in across goal by last season’s top scorer.

 

Within 2 minutes they were 5 clear. Again, the man of the moment Cahill was the scorer, following a wonderful solo run on the left, cutting into the area before slamming an unstoppable shot past the keeper.

 

Next came one of the best goals I have seen at this level. Retaining possession for what must have been close to 2 minutes, Johnstown had Torro chasing shadows as the man on the ball always had at least 2 options to pass to. With this slick passing and movement Johnstown gradually made their way upfield. Following a cross from Luco, the eventual finishing touch was applied by Jamie Connolly making it 6-0 with over twenty minutes still to play.

 

At this point, Johnstown’s management team made a raft of changes, which resulted in their side dropping the intensity slightly as the substitutes took a few minutes to get into the game.

 

With 10 minutes to go, a quick break by Johnstown down the right culminated with substitute Ger Lynch crossing for Wayne Cahill who dispatched the ball first time into the Torro goal and completed his 2nd hat trick in 7 days, making it 7-0.

 

5 minutes later, Cahill was at it again. Sean Challenger took possession. Following a strong driving run through the Torro midfield, he played in Cahill to score his 8th goal in 3 games, and his 4th of the night.

 

In the dying moments, Torro struck a consolation goal denying Johnstown a much needed clean sheet that has proved elusive so far this season.

 

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

Subs: G. Lynch for Luco, S. Conroy for Ivers, P. Dempsey for Zeberek.

 

Johnstown 6

Oldcastle 1

Thursday nights in the MDL are proving to be a feast of entertainment when Johnstown are playing at home. For the 3rd successive Thursday, their home match produced plenty of goals as they overcame Division 2 side Oldcastle 6 goals to 1 in the LMFM Kilmessan Shield.

The opening quarter of an hour did not see much between the 2 teams with the visitors edging it slightly until Wayne Cahill opened the scoring for Johnstown.  A superb ball played over the top by Sean Challenger, found the late run of Cahill who lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper into the net.

This helped settle the home side and 10 minutes later they doubled their lead. A neat combination between Adam Ivers and Aaron Mooney saw the latter feed Cahill to make it 2-0.

With a pre-match requirement of a clear 4 goal victory to progress in the shield, Johnstown were half way there, with well over an hour left to play. In fact, their half time lead should have been greater had their attacking players timed their runs a bit better as they caught offside on numerous occasions.

The first attack of the second half, ended with Johnstown’s 3rd of the night. Aaron Mooney pounced quickest following a fine save by the Oldcastle keeper from an Adam Ivers shot.

On 52 minutes, Johnstown made it 4-0. Dylan Bollard and Ivers combined well down the right to set Vinny Murphy free. His pinpoint cross found the unmarked Aaron Mooney at the back post who headed home his second of the night.

Having opened up the 4 goal margin they needed, Johnstown seemed to ease off a little and with 22 minutes remaining, Oldcastle pulled one back.

Showing the levels of spirit and performance so praised by manager Iain Sheridan after the final whistle, Johnstown lifted their game again.

With 10 minutes left, Wayne Cahill completed his hat trick. Sean Challenger, instrumental yet again, dissected the defence with the pass of the night. An intelligent dummy by substitute Peter Dempsey, saw Cahill run free onto the ball and finish neatly making it 5-1.

With time running down, Shane Kelly broke through the Oldcastle back line. Looking odds on to make it 6-1, he was unceremoniously hacked down on the edge of box by the last man. Once the red card was issued, it was time for Johnstown’s free kick.

Seeking the goal his performance deserved, Sean Challenger stepped up and hit his free kick. Having beaten the wall, his attempt was destined for the back of the net until the keeper dived desperately to get a hand to it and keep it out. Unfortunately for him, Peter Dempsey, reacting quicker than men half his age, was on hand to tap home, showing there’s life in the old dog yet, to make it 6-1 giving Johnstown the extra cushion to see the game out comfortably.

“Having leaked so many goals in recent games, we worked on our defence this week and are lucky to have great players who took our advice onboard” beamed assistant manager Christy Kanavagh.

Johnstown FC Team: K. Zeberek, D. Bollard, J. Colton, D. McQuillan (c), M. Grumley, W. Cahill, J. Connolly, S. Challenger, V. Murphy, A. Mooney, A. Ivers

Subs: P. Dempsey for Mooney, S. Kelly for Bollard, C. Murphy for Ivers

BY JULIAN LEE

 

Johnstown 5

Enfield Celtic 5

For the second week running, Johnstown were involved in a free scoring O’Neill’s Sportswear Division 1 encounter as they shared 10 goals and the points with visitors Enfield Celtic on Thursday night at the MDL.

Johnstown started slowly and could have been 3 down inside 10 minutes, but for some wayward shooting from Enfield Celtic. Their poor quality of finishing was not to last however, and the visitors were 3 to the good by half time.

In need of some drastic changes, assistant manager Christy Kavanagh, brought on the returning Arnold Ruksenas for centre-back Jay Connolly. Last season’s NEFL Division 1 Player of the Year wasted no time and was immediately involved in the action. His pace and power were instrumental is setting up Sean Challenger in the 1st minute of the second half, with Challenger’s shot flying just over the bar.

Johnstown’s first of the evening came 4 minutes after the interval. Kacper Zeberek beat 2 Enfield defenders before laying the ball out to Wayne Cahill cutting into the area from the left.  His low driven shot nestled into the net at the far post. Johnstown were back in the game.

Shortly after, Johnstown reduced the deficit further when Zeberek and Ruksenas combined quickly at the throw in. Ruksenas then ran directly at Enfield back line before teeing up Challenger who made no mistake with his accuracy this time as his shot found the bottom corner making it 2-3, and capping a superb performance by the midfielder.

It was to get even better for Johnstown when, just after the hour mark, captain Darren McQuillan completed his sides astonishing comeback. The Enfield keeper allowed a Mark Grumley corner slip through his hands. It fell to McQuillan’s feet at the back post and gratefully accepting the invitation, he levelled the game at 3 apiece.

On 66 minutes, Kacper Zeberek was felled in the area. Unfortunately, his spot kick was well saved by the Enfield net minder and the game remained 3-3 but not for long.

2 minutes later, McQuillan was again on hand, as he latched onto a loose ball in the Enfield area. His low shot across the goal, aided by a slight deflection, gave Johnstown the lead for the first time on the night.

On an evening of end-to-end football, Enfield recovered from Johnstown’s blistering 2^nd half performance to go 5-4 up in the next 10 minutes.

Having hauled themselves back into a game that looked lost at half time, Johnstown would have to do it all again. This time with the clock working against them.

For the third time on the night, McQuillan was involved in the Enfield box. Rising highest at the back post, his goal bound header was stopped on the line by an Enfield defender’s hand. Another penalty, and this time a red card. Up stepped Ruksenas and levelled the game 5-5 with just 4 minutes remaining.

When asked for his thoughts after the game, assistant manager Christy Kavanagh joked “Someday we’ll keep a clean sheet and win 5-0!”, his mood at full time being a polar opposite to that when the half time whistle went.

 

Johnstown FC Team: E. Kairys, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), M. Grumley, D. Bollard,  S. Conroy, W. Cahill, S. Challenger, G. Lynch, K. Zeberek

Subs: A. Ruksenas for Connolly, Arron Mooney for Cahill, E. Donnelly for Lynch.

 

Johnstown 4

Square Utd 3

It was a case of 3rd time lucky as Johnstown finally got their first win of the 2016/17 season when they edged out Square United in an epic 7 goal thriller in the O’Neill’s Sportswear Division 1 on Thursday night at the MDL.

The hosts took the lead early on when Mark Grumley swung a trademark left footed free kick into the Square United box following a foul on Wayne Cahill. Such was the quality of the delivery, it was no surprise to those watching that when attempting to clear the danger, the Square defender could only head into his own net giving Johnstown the lead with less than 4 minutes played.

Despite playing most of the opening quarter without the ball, it was the men from Ardee who were sharper in the final third. A goal direct from a free 20 yards out saw them draw level, before on 21 minutes, they capitalised on some hesitant defending, finishing high over Mangan in Johnstown’s net.

Just before halftime, Johnstown had a chance to draw level. A fine move down the right, started by Mangan, saw a neat interchange between the front 2 before Ger Lynch crossed for Kacper Zeberek to shoot bringing a tremendous save from the Square net minder.

Mid way through the 2nd half, it was Johnstown’s turn to profit from some lax defending as Ger Lynch pounced on a loose ball in their area and fired his side back on level terms. Thus began a spell of 3 goals in 6 minutes.

Sean Challenger, more than living up to his name, robbed a Square defender on the edge of the area. He drove into the area before shooting high across the goal. Despite the keeper’s best efforts, he could not keep it out and Johnstown were back in front.

Within 2 minutes, the Louth side were level again. Awarded a corner, the referee spotted some pushing the area and pointed to the spot. Although he dived the right way, Mangan could not keep it out. Worse still, he picked up an injury, becoming the 3rd home player having to withdraw through injury after another lengthy stoppage.

With the match entered injury time, the host’s laid siege on the Square end. It is in the 12th of the allotted 14 minutes of injury time, that Kacper Zeberek got the finishing touch to another Grumley free kick, sending his teammates and supporters on the side line into raptures.

After the game, manager Iain Sheridan praised his team’s character, commitment, and never give up attitude that saw them over the finish line, taking the 3 points as full reward that their play deserved.

Johnstown FC Team: K. Mangan, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), M. Grumley, P. Challenger,  S. Conroy, W. Cahill, S. Challenger, G. Lynch, K. Zeberek
Subs: V. Murphy for P. Challenger, D. Bolland for Murphy, D. Byrne for Manga

Cocongratulations to Arnold on winning the North East Football LeagueDivision 1 player of the year