Second Division Cup final:

 

Hakin 2nds 5 - Johnston 3

 


For Hakin United it was a glimpse into the future - and it was enough to seal them cup silverware with a comfortable win over Johnston, writes Fraser Watson.
 
Tom Wheeler's side dominated the first-half to lead 3-1 at the break and then struck two further goals before The Tigers rallied in the dying minutes to at least bring respectability to the score line.
 

Dolling and Stannett do early damage

 
Johnston boss Ashley Bevans opted to deploy a back three but in the opening stages, his side were overran as Hakin's attack found space at will.

 The Vikings could have been ahead within two minutes when Hayden Dimond found himself unmarked in the area, but his touch let him down as he went through on goal.
 
Mason Dolling then skipped past two defenders and slipped in Callum Stannett to score only for the linesman's flag to scupper the celebrations, but just 13 minutes in Hakin got the opening goal they merited.
 
Dimond dropped deep before spreading play out to the right to Dolling, who skipped past Steve Allen before placing a low shot beyond Johnston keeper Martin John.
 
The lead lasted barely a minute though, as Craig Bendall's long ball forward left Josh Lewis in two minds, and as the Hakin keeper hesitated Alfie Crawford nipped in to fire a shot in off the post.
 
But with Scott Paddison to the fore in midfield, Wheeler's team reassumed control midway through the half and after Dimond had a shot blocked by John from point blank range, Johnston's Craig Bendall unwittingly handled in his own area and Reggie Armstrong buried the subsequent penalty low into the corner.
 
The Tigers, struggling to get a foothold in terms of possession, then paid the price for trying to play from deep as Lewis Boswell's pass was intercepted by Stannett, and from the edge of the area he expertly curled his effort over John and into the top of the net.
 
The same player then teed up Dolling but he was denied by the onrushing John, and moments later the winger could have scored again but didn't connect properly with Louis Thompson's cross.
 

Late goals light up second half

 
Johnston switched to a back four in the second period but just five minutes after the restart, the game was effectively over as Lewis Llewellyn pinged a shot into the corner from outside the area.
 
There were further chances as Dimond fired across goal and at the other end, Knapp was thwarted by Lewis as he tried to round the keeper.
 
In the final quarter, the game appeared to be petering out as both sides emptied their benches, before the final sprang back into life with three late goals.
 
It was two Hakin subs who combined for their fifth, with Evan Rutherford putting 16-year-old Jake John clean through on goal, and he kept his composure to skip around the keeper and finish well from a tight angle.
 
To Johnston's credit, they refused to fade and as time ran out, Joey John's volley was adjudged to struck the hand of Paddison and Luke Hayward - so critical to his club at the same venue when they last won the Senior Cup 13 years ago - made no mistake from the spot.
 
In injury time, George's in-swinging corner was headed in by Charlie Hughes but although it was Johnston who finished the game on the front foot, in reality their late rally came way too late to affect the outcome.
 
Hakin manager Tom Wheeler: "The boys were outstanding. Everyone of them put a shift in and that's what it's all about in a cup final. We are such a young team but a mature one as well and the talent of the boys shone through.
 
"If they scored the first one after half-time they get back in it - but the fourth goal for us killed it. It looks a bright future for the club."
 
Man of the match: Callum Stannett
 
Scott Paddison and Mason Dolling were both prominent in much of what Hakin did, but it was Stannett who mostly revelled in the space. His goal was expertly taken and throughout, the Johnston defence struggled to cope with his movement and play on the ball. Was hauled off with minutes to go - and had earned his rest.
 
Hakin 2nds: Josh Lewis, Lewis Llewellin, Tom Evans (Captain), George Wheeler, Reggie Armstrong, Louis Thompson (Taio Hein 70), Leon Pemberthy (Evan Rutherford 62), Scott Paddison, Hayden Dimond (Jake John 76), Callum Stannett (Gareth Fawcett 84) Mason Dolling (Oliver Mayhew 81).
 
Johnston: Martin John, Marcus Allen, Steve Allen (Geno Cleal 77), Craig Bendall (Scott Murray 53), Lewis Boswell, Josh Knapp, Luke Hayward, Joey George (Captain), Steve Mills, Ryan Doyle (Callum Rees 45, Charlie Hughes 76), Alfie Crawford (Jack Bevan 76).
 
Referee: Mark Hicks.
 
Assistants: Angus Scourfield and Daniel James.
 
Fourth official: Neill Crawshaw.