Johnstown welcomed Kilkenny side Fort Rangers to the MDL for their LFA junior Cup 1st Round tie on Sunday afternoon.
Despite creating a number of chances, the home side’s solitary first half strike from Arnold Luco was cancelled out by the visitors leaving the game evenly poised at 1 apiece at the interval.
The second half saw Johnstown’s inability to convert chances continue as first, Sean Challenger, twice denied by the keeper, and then Kacper Zeberek, his headed effort cleared off the line, failed to restore the hosts’ lead.
Midway through the half, Johnstown were almost left to rue their profligacy. A quick break down their left, followed by a cross to the back post produced a shot that needed a fine save from Dan Shields.
Shortly after, the chance of the match fell to Fort Rangers. Another attack on the left finished with the winger pulling the ball back to an unmarked onrushing midfielder. With the goal at his mercy, the Kilkenny man could only steer his effort on to the upright, leaving Johnstown unable to believe their luck.
2 minutes later, substitute Adam Foy, with his first touch restored Johnstown’s lead, tapping in a Luco cross at the back post.
As the game wore on, and with the visiting team beginning to fade, Johnstown could have scored their third as chances went a begging.
With 6 minutes left, their third did arrive putting the game to bed. Zeberek jumped with the keeper in an effort to get something on Sean Challenger’s corner. This left Zeberek on the ground but the ball fell nicely for him to volley over his head into the net.
Johnstown could have added a fourth when Foy’s quick feet released Zeberek. Unfortunately on this occasion the keeper got a strong to his shot, making sure the score line remained 3-1.
Johnstown FC Team: D. Shields, J. Colton, D. Grumley, D. McQuillan (c), J. Gaffney, S. Challenger, B. Gibney, V. Murphy, P. Challenger, K. Zeberek, A. Luco
Subs: D. Halligan for Murphy, A. Foy for Gibney.
