Johnstown’s poor start to the 2017/18 season continued as they slumped to their 3rd consecutive defeat in all competitions since action resumed, when newly promoted Kells/Blackwater ran out 4-1 winners at the MDL on Thursday night.
The opening skirmishes saw little in the way of goalmouth action with both sides looking comfortable in possession as they sought to get the measure of one another.
The visitors soon concentrated much of their attacking play down their right and it from this avenue they opened the scoring with barely 10 minutes on the clock. A cross from their right was inadequately defended and allowed to reach their man at the back post. No sooner had he taken the ball under control, the shot was released and required a fine save by Daniel Shields in the home net. However, his intervention was in vain as the ball rebounded to another attacker who had a simple task of slipping the ball home.
Mid-way through the half, Johnstown were level. Right back Jason Colton swung a super cross into the area where it was met by an excellent diving header from Kacper Zeberek which left the keeper with little chance.
Parity did not last long however and Kells/Blackwater were back in front within 4 minutes. A tussle on the left side of Johnstown’s box resulted in the visitors being awarded a free kick which many watching felt could have gone the other way. Another cross, another goal as the delivery was met by the firm head of Zeberek, putting into his own net cancelling out his earlier effort.
It was to get worse for the Johnstown keeper and his side just after the half hour mark when the visitors were awarded their first penalty of the evening. A well timed run from a Kells forward saw him meet a through ball. As Shields advanced, the attacker touched the ball past the Johnstown keeper. Although contact seemed minimal, the attacker went down and the referee pointed to the spot. The well struck penalty went in off the post, making it 3-1 as it was to remain at the interval.
Putting a disappointing 1st half behind them, Johnstown knew they had to come out in search of an early goal but despite their efforts their first opportunity to pull one back did not arrive until just shy of the hour.
A free kick out wide on the left was played into the area. This time, it was Kells/Blackwater whose defending was unconvincing and allowed Colton to fire a shot across goal. Standing 6 yards out, Zeberek threw a hopeful foot out as Colton’s shot flew past him but he could not redirect it on target.
Soon after, the visitors almost made it 4-1. A corner from their right was met in the area but all could only watch as it thundered back off the underside of the bar.
Their fourth came in the last few minutes of the match. A quick break down their left, saw Kells enter the home side’s area where their man was felled by an inviting leg. Again the referee showed little hesitation and awarded the second spot kick of the night which was duly converted, leaving the game to run out 4-1 to the visitors.
A disappointing night all round for Johnstown but little time to dwell as they will be firmly focussed on their next outing against Enfield next Thursday night.
Johnstown FC Team: D. Shields, J. Colton, D. McQuillan (c), J. Connolly, J. Gaffney, L. Kelly, P. Challenger, S. Challenger, W. Cahill, K. Zeberek, A. Luco
Subs: A. Mooney for Luco, D. Bollard for Kelly, B. Gibney for P. Challenger, M. Butler for Cahill, J. Forde for McQuillan.