West Wales Cup Round 1: Johnston 5-1 North End

JOHNSTON marked their return to the West Wales Cup with a convincing win over North End at Glebelands.

The Tigers edged the early stages while the visitors looked threatening on the break.

But despite some good chances and a penalty shout, it wasn’t until just before half time where the home side broke the deadlock as Chris Phillips cushioned a header into the path of Luke Hayward, who volleyed home from 18 yards. 

Shortly after the break and North End had shouts for a penalty turned away after claiming handball in the Johnston area, but the real turning point came on the 50 minute mark when Johnston boss Dean Boswell brought on Ryan Doyle and Scott Crawford.

It was the catalyst for a great team goal as Jake Smith showed great feet on the right wing before linking with Crawford, whose run and deep cross found Joey George and he played in an overlapping Scott Murray - who duly squared for Doyle to score.

It soon became 3-0 as Crawford found himself unmarked from a Hayward corner and was able to nod in at the back post. 

As North End pushed forward things opened up further for Johnston, and Doyle got his second in style, latching onto a long ball over the top from George and beating the last defender before dispatching a shot into the top corner. 

The 2012/13 winners rounded off their scoring late on when Hayward was brought down in the box, and Doyle slotted in the penalty to complete his second hat trick in as many games.

North End were determined to have the last say though, and got their reward when Steven Allen was penalised for a foul in his own box and Nicky Williams, who had been lively all day, beat Jim Payne from the spot.

Johnston squad: Jim Payne, Joe John, Steven Allen, Sion Price, Marcus Allen, Joey George, Chris Phillips, Luke Hayward, Liam Boswell, Scott Crawford, Ryan Doyle, Scott Murray, Jake Smith, Jamie Barrett, Liam James.