Johnston are the new West Wales Intermediate Cup champions following a dramatic encounter with Penlan Club at the Liberty Stadium last night (Wednesday).

With the game locked at 2-2 in extra time, and penalties looming, Steve Mills latched onto a through ball from sub Martyn Tweedie before finishing cooly past Dale Hulland in the Penlan goal.

Remarkably Mills, who was injured as he scored an injury time equaliser in normal time, was back on the field after being stretchered off.

He epitomised the Tigers' never say die attitude, as they fought back from being 2-0 down at half time.

They nearly fell behind just seven minutes in when Penlan skipper Jamie James struck a weak free kick which Langdon awkwardly managed to tip around his post.

But five minutes later the Swansea side were ahead. Danny Roberts and Adam Carroll combined to set up striker Carl Mucha, and his shot from point blank range found the net via the crossbar.

Johnston were enjoying plenty of possession but seldom threatened in the opening half hour, until Adam Hawkins’ low cross found Joe John, but his close range shot was superbly blocked by Penlan defender Darren Roberts.

At the other end, Lee Morgan shot inches wide from the edge of the area before the Tigers missed a big chance. A Mills cross from the left found Hawkins at the back post, but the normally clinical striker headed his effort back across the face of the goal.

It appeared a crucial moment, as, on the brink of half time, Penlan doubled their lead. A Danny Roberts corner evaded everyone and nestled into the net.

It left Johnston with a mountain to climb but to their credit, Russell Murray’s men came out in the second half a different team. Early pressure came to nothing before a Scott Murray free kick found an unmarked Chris Ormond, but the skipper headed wastefully wide.

But Penlan were always a threat on the counter attack and Langdon had to be at his best to deny Morgan with his legs, before John went close for the Tigers when he was inches away from connecting with a Hawkins cross.

But with 58 minutes gone, the same combination brought Johnston right back into it. Again Hawkins found space on the right, and his driven cross found John who made no mistake from close range.

Then Murray so nearly levelled matters when his free kick came back off the post, and Hawkins follow up shot was cleared off the line.

Tigers’ fans had their hearts in their mouths moments later when Morgan appeared to be brought down by Luke Hayward in the Johnston area, but nothing was given.

A James Skudder cross was then brilliantly cut out by Darren Roberts again, but with two minutes left, it was Penlan who went agonisingly close. A corner was bundled goalwards by Mucha, but Tigers right back Andrew John cleared the ball off the line.

It sparked protests from the Penlan players and coaching staff who felt the ball had crossed the line, and it proved crucial as the Tigers subsequently struck in injury time.

Mills raced onto a Hayward through ball and slid home from the edge of the area, clattering into keeper Hulland in the process.

The left back was subsequently stretchered off, leaving the Tigers facing extra time a man down as they had used their three substitutes.

But Mills courageously reappeared as extra time kicked off, being sent on up front by Murray.

The Tigers should have been ahead within moments of the restart when Murray was denied by Hulland from close range, before Tweedie shot tamely at the keeper when through on goal.

Mills then surged into the area but at the decisive moment, his injured leg appeared to hinder him and he miscued wide.

Early in the second period, Penlan had their big chance when Mucha worked space in the area, but his left footed shot was beaten away by Langdon.

But then, with 116 minutes on the clock, came the game’s defining score.

Mills clipped a right footed shot over Hulland to send Tigers fans and players into ecstasy.

He was actually booked for taking his shirt off in the celebrations, one of five Johnston players to see yellow on the night, but it mattered little as moments later Mark Evans blew the final whistle to complete a dream season for the Tigers.

“I said it after the semi final and I will say it again tonight – what a team” said manager Murray.

“Our guts and determination tonight were epitomised by Steve Mills coming back on to score the winner. But all of the players just kept going, what a brilliant night.”

Johnston: Martin Langdon, Chris Ormond, Andrew John, Steve Mills, Ben Phillips, James Skudder (Sion Price 84), Scott Murray, Luke Hayward, Adam Hawkins, Joe John (Martyn Tweedie 77), Kristian Griffiths (Liam Boswell 66).

Penlan Club: Dale Hulland, Craig Connochie (Damian Owen 65), Adam Carroll, Jamie Davies, Darren Roberts, Robert Connochie, Lee Morgan, Jamie James, Danny Roberts (Paul Lewis 116), Carl Mucha, Gareth Morrell (Gareth Morrell 88).

Referee: Mark Evans

Assistants: David Beckett and Teifion Cook.

Fourth official: Eddie King.

Attendance: 974.

The Western Telegraph ran a live blog throughout the match, which can be seen here.