In the May sunshine St Johns welcomed Barr Hill Hearts to Turn Moss for a league fixture.

St Johns started with their new centre back pairing of Leo and Shemon alongside Rory and Dylan in defence. In an attacking midfield Elim started on the left with Connor and Blake in the centre and Josh O on the right. Said and Elom led the line up front. Barhill brought a big squad but had to rely on stand in goalkeepers.

St Johns started brightly and scored an early opener when a shot from Josh crept under the Barr Hill keeper. Barhill were a danger on the break and equalised shortly after. Said then restored the St Johns lead with a close range finish. Barr Hill were not detered and scored the goal of the game with a fierce long shot from one of their star performers. The end to end action continued and St Johns again retook the lead with an excellent finish from Connor. The lead was extended before half time when Elim was played clear of the defence and finished with aplomb despite an off putting bobble.

In the second hal,f Josh found space on the right and found Thomas in the middle who steered the ball home with the help of a deflection from his hand. Barhill continued to plug away and scored again with a cross deflected in off Rory. Elim was moved into the striker position and it paid off when his pace, power and composure took him clear and extended the St Johns lead. With two more excellent through balls he repeated the trick twice more for his hat-trick and then a fourth in the game much to the delight of his brother and the rest of the St Johns lads. Unfortunately we couldn't spare him the match ball. Close to the end of the match Barhill scored a consolation to make the score 8-4 to the home side. Blake had a scuffle with a Barrhill player five minutes from the end that was diffused by his St Johns teamates.

It was a confident victory built on solid defence. The passing in the second half and ELim's finishing made it a comfortable victory. I hope the boys enjoyed it particlarly after a heavy defeat last week.

Thanks for everyone's support

JT