Senior Cup Final 2013 at The Conygar Bridge Meadow

Senior Cup winners Johnston celebrate after beating the West Dragons 3-2.


6th April 2013

 

Johnston 3 – West Dragons 2

 

Adam Hawkins scored two goals in the first half to help Johnston to their first Senior Cup Final victory for 28 years.

The division one outfit proved too strong in the opening 45 minutes for the division two team too cope with.

Goals from Andrew John and a brace from Hawkins put the Tigers in strong position by half time.

But after the break the Dragons were given a glimmer of hope when Crawford struck in the 57th minute. Then the Tigers’ were reduced to ten men when skipper Chris Ormond was sent off for a rash tackle on Crawford. Man of the match Crawford hammered home a late second, but the ten-men clung on for a thoroughly deserved win despite Nigel Delaney’s Dragons putting in  a spirited display.

 

Bright start

 

Johnston settled quickly and were noticeably the better team as the Dragons were chasing shadows. Dragons’ midfielder Jonathan Clarke picked up an early booking from referee Sean O’Connor.

The Tigers took the lead on 12 minutes. Right back Andrew John struck a shot allowing for the angle from 30 yards out that went in off Andrew Mathias’ right hand post

Two minutes later and the Tigers doubled their lead. A brilliant cross in the box was met by powerful Adam Hawkins header and put his side in the ascendancy.

On 23 minutes Hawkins should have added second goal as his far post header from a corner went just wide.

Joe John was unlucky not to add a third goal, the striker flashing a volley just past the right hand post.

There was a worry for the Tigers as Kristian Griffiths picked up a leg injury, the centre back bravely 

continued.

Three minutes before the interval and Hawkins bagged his second goal of the game, the striker was

 in acres of space in the box before hitting a low drive past Mathias.

Shortly after the interval and Hawkins should have completed a hat-trick, the striker draggin

g his shot wide from inside the 18-yard area.

 

Crawford strikes

 

The Dragons pulled a goal back 12 minutes after the break. Martin Landon parried Scott Crawford’s first shot, only for the rebound to fall kindly to the striker who lashed home the rebound off the underside of the crossbar.

This goal was just what the division two outfit needed to get them back in the final.

Two minutes later and Crawford was desperately unlucky not to score his second of the match, his low right foot shot beating Langdon but hitting the left hand post.

On the hour mark Tigers’ skipper Chris Ormond was sent off after picking up a second yellow for a rash challenge leaving his side to play the remainder with ten-men.

West kept plugging away and with four minutes left sub Niall Kinsella rapped the bar with a powerful header before Crawford grabbed a late goal, making it a nervous end as the Dragons deserve every credit for fighting back after looking dead and buried at half time!

 

Johnston: Martin Langdon; Chris Ormond; Kristian Griffiths; Steven Mills; Andrew John; James Skudder; Scott Murray; Luke Hayward; Adam Hawkins; Joe John; Mark Jones. Substitutes: Ben Phillips; Liam Boswell; Richie Davies.

 

West Dragons: Andrew Mathias; Ian Harries; Ewan Cunningham; Nigel Delaney; Scott Delaney; Karl Hedley; Steven Dockerty; Jonathan Clarke; Jay Brockway; Rob Hedley; Scott Crawford. Substitutes: Joey Brill; Niall Kinsella; Jamie Palmer.

 

Referee: Sean O’Connor.

 

Assistants: Angus Scourfield & Adrian Harries.

 

Fourth Official: Kevin Milich.

PHOTOS:
Johnston skipper Chris Ormond collects cup from Pembs League Chairman Phil Devonald.
Cup final officials Angus Scourfield, Sean O'Connor, Adrian Harries & Kevin Milich.
Man of the match West Dragons Scott Crawford receives match ball from sponsor Chris Tansey, director of Manderwood.
Runners up West Dragons.