DERRY — Pinkerton of Derry's Josh Johnston struck a personal high-note, striking his first game-winning varsity goal during his club's 3-2 home-turf win over defending Division I soccer champ Manchester Central Tuesday afternoon.

It was a familiar tune for the Little Green team.

Johnston, a sophomore, scored the tie-breaker in this high-stakes soccer game by winning a free ball and maneuvering downfield to slide a left-footed shot under the Pinkerton keeper's right leg and into the goal in the 77th minute of play.

“It's just the same old song for us. We've never had success playing down here,” said Central coach Chris LaBerge after watching the 8-1 Astros win their sixth-straight game while dropping his club to 5-3-1.

“It's like a rerun movie I've seen over and over again. They capitalize and finish chances and grab the win,” said LaBerge. Central has won one game at Pinkerton in LaBerge's 13 season coaching career.

Pinkerton forged two comebacks to steal this win from Central and its speedy counter-attack style of play. The Little Green jumped ahead with a quick strike at 17:15, forcing a turnover and moving the ball 70 yards on two passes before Keegan LaBerge, the coach's son, one-timed a Romeald Katanga crossing serve at the back post.

Pinkerton tied the game about 6 minutes later on a free kick chance, with Brian Kling tipping in the score off Johnston's pass in front of the goal.

Central reclaimed the lead at 28:30 when Samuel Binogono settled an inbound pass, circumvented three defenders off the dribble and lined a 20-yard crossing blast.

“Central is quick, very quick and we had to figure a way to slow them down in the second half,” said Pinkerton senior co-captain Dustin Beamon, who moved into a defensive slot from his usual center mid position and, along with fellow captain Kling and Tim Wood, headed off Central's attack following intermission.

The Astros tied the game on a Ryan Williams header off Wood's free kick.

“It's hard to get mad at these kids because they work so hard,” said Pinkerton coach Kerry Boles.

The Astros graduated 10 starters from last season's semifinal squad. “We're a little inexperienced, but getting better all the time.”

Johnston looked pretty good putting himself in position to strike the game-winner.

“Actually I was scared I'd take too many touches and lose the chance,” said Johnston. “I'm told the idea is to pound it down when you get the opportunity. You have to finish. I had to shoot with my weaker (left) leg, but it went in.”

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Eric Emmerling may be reached at eemmerling@unionleader.com.