Robins win basement battle

From the archive, first published Thursday 19th Jan 2006.

Johnston 1 Pennar Robins 3 PENNAR Robins saw off Johnston in Saturday's tense relegation battle.

Both sides would have targeted this game as a must-win, but it was the Robins who threw themselves a lifeline and closed to within three points of safety.

With 20 minutes gone the visitors grabbed a lead they never looked like relinquishing.

There looked little danger on the cards when Gareth Stewart picked up the ball 25 yards from goal but he fired in a drilled shot that skidded off the slick surface and in off the post.

And the visitors went into the break two goals to the good with another classic long-range strike.

This time Neil Hughes spotted Johnston keeper Steve James off his line and lifted a precise lob over the stranded custodian and into the net.

The Tigers knew they had to get the next goal to make a game of it and they did just that.

A corner floated into the Pennar box was met powerfully by Simon Ormond's header and he pulled his side back into the contest.

The game could have gone either way now but it was the Robins who clinched a crucial third.

Midfielder Andrew Green was gifted time and space in the box and he fired beyond James to seal three vital points for the Robins.

Johnston are now eight points adrift of safety and face a daunting trip to leaders Monkton this weekend.

Johnston: Steve James, Liam Williams, Tim Morgan-Jones, Steve Jones, Ollie Nicholas, Simon Ormond, Ben Philips, Jim Payne, Mark Sture, Gary James, Paul Davies. Subs: Glyn Ruloff, Lee Walters, Neil Lees.

Pennar Robins: Michael Murray, Nathan Hughes, Michael Brace, Neil Hughes, Shaun Donohoe, Andrew Green, Steven James, Geraint Lewis, Lee Leville, Gareth Stewart, Wayne Brunton. Subs: Stuart James, Daniel Butland, Chris Lloyd.

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