FOR the first time this season Express were able to field the same side for a second consecutive week after last week's good win over Perrywood Reserves.

EXPRESS '88 FC 5, ST JOHNS SPORTS 0

With a place in the last eight of the Bernard Finnegan cup up for grabs and against lower division opposition, Express knew they would be in for a tough game.

St Johns kicked off and were immediately dispossessed by Mark Taylor who played a great through ball to Jenno 'Dutch' Kootstra to score with only 15 seconds gone.

For the following 15 minutes it was St Johns who created the better chances, putting the ball into the net, only for it to be ruled out for a foul on keeper Phil Smalley.

Barry Evans and his back four coped well with this early pressure before Steve Hill met Phil Leah's corner to give Express a 2-0 lead.

Ten minutes into the second half Rich Clack met another Leah corner to head Express into a three goal lead and kill the game.

On the hour mark Jenno Kootstra used the deftest of back headers from Leah's free kick to grab his second goal to put Express four up. With substitutes Matt Clifford and Sean Clarke now on and working well, it was Clifford who added the fifth following up to convert after an attempt at goal by Steve Hill.

With St Johns finding the Express crossbar twice and Andy Bottomley and Matt Clifford missing easy chances there could have been plenty more goals.

Man of the match was Jenno Kootstra.

This Sunday Express are home to Martley Spurs Reserves, players meet 9.45am Victoria Park.