Ross Johnson has former Swansea goalkeeper Jason Jones to thank for denying him a once-in-a-lifetime hat-trick.

But the former Albion defender and now East Stand regular has more than enough reason to remember a stormy Friday night at the Vetch Field back in February, 1999.

Johnson claimed the only double strike of his career as the Seagulls forced a 2-2 draw in the fourth tier.

He dedicated the goals to his Welsh grandad, who had died not long beforehand.

The Argus:

But the headlines were taken by a pitch invader who tried to assault Albion’s Michael Bennett and ended up in court the following Monday.

Johnson told The Argus: “Jeff Wood had taken over as manager and we wanted to get results for him.

“The lads kept telling him I’d never scored a goal and then I went and got two.

“I nearly made it a hat-trick right at the end. I hit a 30-yarder which was tipped over.

“The Vetch Field was a really old-fashioned ground. One time I went to take a throw and had a cup of hot tea thrown over me.

“After I scored one of the goals that night I saw Micky Bennett running towards me and I shouted at him, ‘There’s a geezer coming for you’.

“The bloke came up from behind and tried to punch him.”

Johnson headed home a Paul Sturgess corner in the 55th minute to cancel out Steve Jones’ first-half strike.

The Argus:

Then he turned in a Derek Allan header four minutes from time after Steve Watkin had restored Swansea’s lead and the hosts’ Julian Alsop had been sent-off.

Wood had taken over from Brian Horton and things eventually turned sour after a bright start in charge. That in turn led to ex-Swans boss Micky Adams taking over.

Johnson, who watches Albion these days with his nine-year-old Henry, said Wood’s demise was not for the want of trying on the players’ part.

The Argus:

He said: “Jeff was a really nice fella. He always had time to stay behind after training and talk to you."

Albion: Walton; Sturgess, Johnson, Culverhouse, Allan, Mayo (Moralee); Arnott, Armstrong, Bennett; Hart, Barker.