Johnston 7

Merlins Bridge 4

NICKY Woodrow scored five times to earn Johnston a high-scoring victory at home against Merlins Bridge.

Just a couple of weeks earlier both these teams met in the Senior Cup semi-final and in 120 minutes play they could not find the back of the net, but on Saturday, they incredibly shared eleven goals between them.

An early Woodrow deflected strike and a long range Steve Mills’ free kick gave the Tigers a two-goal cushion at half time. But the Wizards clawed their way back with goals by Joe John and Daniel Bryce, Woodrow added the Tigers’ third and Stephen McNabney equalised for the visitors. Woodrow added two quick goals before McNabney pulled another back, but the Tigers put the result beyond doubt as Woodrow struck the sixth and Luke Hayward added the seventh from the spot.

Johnston: Martin Langdon, Steve Mills, Ben Phillips, Kristian Griffiths, Andrew John, Steve Dockerty, Gary James, Luke Hayward, James Skudder, Nicky Woodrow, Adam Hawkins. Sub: Chris Phillips.

Merlins Bridge: Carl Woodhouse, Nathan Thomas, Jordan Raymond, Peter Thomas, Daniel Bryce, Matthew D’Ivry, Dai Davies, Stephen McNabney, Joe John, Simon Thomas. Subs: Jon Sable, Nathan Greene, Lee Hudgell.

Referee: Matthew Mercer.

EYE OF TIGERS: Johnston striker Nicky Woodrow closes in on Bridge centre back Peter Thomas. PICTURE: Western Telegraph.