Division One:

Johnston 2-6 Milford United

BRACES for Liam Parr and Danny Raicu helped Milford United to a welcome three points as they came from behind to hammer Johnston at Glebelands.

Home striker Ryan Doyle had given his side a first half lead, but Andrew Burgoyne’s men led at the break as they struck back through a Haydn Smith own goal and a Parr volley.

Parr added his second after half time, while Raicu also scored twice – and after Steve Mills pulled one back for Johnston with a penalty, it was Taku Padiwa who completed a good day for Andrew Burgoyne’s men with their sixth goal late on.

Even at this early stage of the season, the game was billed as a crucial one with both sides going into it with just three points from their opening six league games.

And it was The Robins who made the brighter start as striker Padiwa was denied by onrushing home keeper Chris Smith.

The lively Padiwa was then thwarted by Smith again as he latched onto Raicu’s through ball and shrugged off the tackle of Ryan Hayward – only for the keeper to save brilliantly at point blank range.

The visitors continued to create chances as Josh Smart had a close range effort blocked from Neil Mathias’ low cross, before Smith again had to be alert to tip over William Goodall’s deflected header.

But against the run of the play, it was The Tigers who went ahead 33 minutes in when Ryan Gainford played in Doyle, who steadied himself before firing a left foot shot across Milford stand in-keeper James McCarthy and into the bottom corner.

And moments later Glenn Murray’s side almost doubled the lead, when Doyle’s cross was deflected inches away from Hayward as he seemed set to head in at the back post.

It proved a pivotal moment as on 37 minutes The Robins levelled, as Parr’s cross was met by Goodall, and although the centre back’s header fell short of the line, in the ensuing scramble the unfortunate Haydn Smith put the ball into his own net.

And six minutes later it was 1-2, as Padiwa tried to find Smart in the box, and his blocked pass fell into the path of Parr who crashed a half volley home from 15 yards.

There was still time for another Milford chance before the break as Padiwa latched onto a Gareth Cheshire’s flick on, but his dinked finish drifted wide.

But seven minutes after half time it was 1-3, as Luke Hart played in Raicu, who kept his composure to slot home.

And six minutes later Milford had a fourth when Padiwa, a constant threat during the 90 minutes, skipped past two defenders and squared for Parr to tap into an empty net.

The latter then saw his cross headed wide by an unmarked Smart – before The Robins struck again on 70 minutes after Raicu was taken out by Mills on the edge of the area, and picked himself up to superbly curl the free kick over the wall and into the top corner, leaving Smith rooted to the spot.

Goodall then had a headed goal disallowed for a foul on the home keeper, before The Tigers mustered some late pressure as Doyle had his low angled shot tipped away by McCarthy.

And in the 90th minute the striker was taken out in the area by Milford substitute Tom Llewellyn, and after referee Huw George pointed to the spot, Mills pulled one back with a cheeky chipped penalty.

But there was still time for the visitors to strike again in injury time, as Padiwa got the goal his play deserved as he lifted the ball over Smith after good work by sub Ben Robertson.

“We’ve been lacking confidence in recent weeks but things started to come together today,” said Burgoyne afterwards.

“We needed a win and hopefully we can push on from this.”

The Robins now lie 11th in Division One, while Johnston are just one place from the bottom in 13th.

Johnston: Chris Smith, Haydn Smith, Ryan Hayward, Ashley Sheehan, Steve Mills, Liam Sheehan, Ryan Gainford, Ryan Codd, Andrew Murray, Tom Pratt, Ryan Doyle.

Subs: Jamie Picton, Glenn Murray.

Milford United: James McCarthy, Chris Davies, Scott Griffiths, William Goodall, Neil Mathias, Gareth Cheshire, Luke Hart, Liam Parr, Josh Smart, Danny Raicu, Taku Padiwa.

Subs: Ashley Mathias, Ben Robertson, Tom Llewellyn.

Referee: Huw George.