Eddie Merry Memorial Cup

 

Hakin United 2 - Johnston 6

 
Venue: St Mary’s Field, Fishguard
Referee: Sean O’ Connor
Assistants: Tom Bevan and Andrew Hopkin
 
Johnston won the 30th annual Eddie Merry Memorial Cup with a comfortable victory over Hakin United, who just like their semi final with hosts Fishguard Sports, chose to field a second string side, and the Tigers took full advantage.
 
Russell Murray’s men threatened early on when Joe John just failed to capitalise on a mistake by Vikings’ keeper Jason Rickard, before the stopper made a good save from Stephen Dockerty.
But the Tigers took the lead 13 minutes in when John drove a low shot home following good build up play from Luke Hayward, Tom Wilks, and James Skudder.

 

Tigers in front

 
Jamie Davies fired wide with Hakin’s first real sight of goal before John went clean through at the other end only to see his shot tipped round the post by Rickard - but Dockerty did double the advantage when he scored directly from an inswinging corner.
 
Skudder looked sharp with his ability to run at the opposition and after he saw his shot tipped over the bar by Rickard, he combined with Dockerty to set up John, who bagged his second, and Johnston’s third, after 35 minutes.
 

Vikings show typical grit

 
At that point the game appeared over but to Hakin’s credit, they battled back well before half time and when Tigers skipper Chris Ormond was adjudged to have blocked a Davies cross with his hand, Ryan Lewis made no mistake from the spot as he beat Martin Langdon in the Johnston goal.
 
Moments later Aaron Owens crashed a free kick against the bar, and Davies tapped in from close range after Johnston keeper Martin Langdon had blocked a Josh Youds’ shot.
 

John claims a hat-trick

 
Owens then nearly levelled matters after the break when another dipping free kick sailed just over but on 55 minutes the Tigers took command again when Skudder was brought down in the box, and after Hayward saw his spot kick tipped onto the post by Rickard, Wilks followed up the rebound to score.
 
Dockerty and John then both went close before the latter completed a hat trick, robbing Rickard of possession and tapping home following a weak back pass by Michael Cooper.
 

Langdon finishes things off

 
With 15 minutes left, Skudder won a second Johnston penalty, the third in the game awarded by referee Sean O’Connor, and Langdon came out of his goal to fire into the top corner and make it 6-2.
 
After the game, Fishguard AFC chairman Owen Duggan thanked everyone involved in the tournament and announced the three games had raised £1600 for charity before he presented the cup to winning captain Chris Ormond.

Hakin United: Jason Rickard, Aaron Bowles, Paul Jenkins, Ian Aldred, George Phillips, Ryan Wilson, James Trueman, Andrew Armstrong, Jamie Davies, Aaron Owens, Josh Youds. Subs: Paul Jones, Michael Cooper, Paul Howard.

Johnston: Martin Langdon, Chris Ormond, Andrew John, Sion Price, Ewan Cunningham, Scott Murray, Stephen Dockerty, Luke Hayward, Tom Wilks, Joe John, James Skudder. Subs: Steve Mills, Mark Jones, Ryan Doyle.

PHOTOS:
Johnston
Chris Ormond lifts the cup as Owen Duggan and Matthew Lamb look on
Referee Sean O'Connor (centre) with Andrew Hopkin and Tom Bevan
James Skudder is hauled down to earn a second penalty for the Tigers
Hakin United