Hakin United 2 – Johnston 2


(Johnston win 6-5 on penalties)

Johnston won the Jubilee Bowl on penalties against Hakin United after it finished all square after 90 minutes at Monkton Lane on Thursday evening.

This competition between last season’s Division One champions and Senior Cup and West Wales Intermediate Cup holders is the official curtain raiser before the official start of the season that will kick-off next week.

Both teams came into this clash at virtually full strength, and it was a full blooded encounter played in heavy showers. Referee Kevin Milich kept a tight control on proceedings, booking seven players in total, four Vikings and three Tigers.

Double save

Vikings goalkeeper James Manson pulled off a brilliant double save to deny Tom Wilks and Joe John from breaking the deadlock midway through the first period.  Tigers right back Andrew John fired a shot from 12-yards over the crossbar. Also Michael Copper headed the ball off the line from a dangerous an in-swinging corner by Wilks.

A minute before the break and centre back Gareth Fawcett scored with a powerful header, provided by a well flighted corner in the box by Steve Mathias, who had ten minutes earlier replaced Paul Jones.

However, the West Wales Intermediate Cup holders responded as they equalised five minutes after the break with a scruffy taken goal. Steve Mills’ free-kick from the edge of the box rebounded off the Vikings’ defensive wall, and the ball fell kindly to James Skudder, the wide-sided midfielder placed his right-foot shot in the back of the net from three-yards.

On the hour mark and the Vikings regained the lead with a well-worked goal. Adam Davies played a neat one-two with Harding, and former Tish striker ran clear to beat Martin Langdon at his right-hand near post for a sublime finish.

Late equaliser

But three minutes from full-time and Tigers Ben Skudder equalised, the substitute raced onto a through ball and finished superbly from a tight angle with Manson rushing out.

No extra-time and the game was settled on penalties. Both teams converted their first four, and then Tigers’ Ryan Doyle saw his 12-yard effort saved by Manson. Mathias stepped up for the Vikings, but he failed to convert what could have been the winner.  Andrew John struck the Tigers’ seventh penalty into the roof of the net and Vikings’ skipper Ewan Findlay saw his effort brilliantly saved by hero Langdon.

Vikings’ skipper Chris Ormond received the Jubilee Bowl, but the Tigers main aim this campaign is to lift the title come the end of the season, but the Vikings are not going to surrender their crown too easily.

Both teams observed a minute's silence before kick-off in memory of Hundleton footballer Grant Weston who sadly died while on holiday in Ibiza.

Hakin United: James Manson; Steve Allen, Ewan Findlay (Captain); Leigh Broome; Gareth Fawcett; Jonathan Bennett; Justin Harding; Matthew Broome (60’ Paul Jenkins); Michael Cooper (65’ Aaron Owens); Paul Jones (35’ Steve Mathias).

Johnston: Martin Langdon; Chris Ormond (Captain); Andrew John; Steve Mills; Ewan Cunningham; James Skudder; Scott Murray; Luke Hayward; Joe John (54’ Ben Skudder); Tom Wilks; Steven Dockerty (70’ Ryan Doyle). Substitute not used: Sion Price.

Referee: Kevin Milich.
Assistants: James Olyott & David Badger.