SIKESTON, Mo. -- An open net can sometimes be the scariest thing.

With nothing in front of you but a goal and opportunity, pressure can sometimes lead to a botched shot.

With all the commotion surrounding his situation, Sikeston's Adam Johnson wasn't so sure he connected with his open shot.

"I thought I missed the ball at first," Johnson said. "I realized it went into the net, and it was kind of an adrenaline rush after that."

Johnson's goal proved to be the game winner in the first half in a 1-0 victory against Central on Tuesday.

Sikeston (5-3) did everything it could to get the ball past midfield in the first 18 minutes of the game, and it did so just twice before Johnson's goal.

"We had to get used to the way they played at first," Baron said. "After that, we learn how they want to play and then start playing the way we want to."

Tyler McClinton, a speedy forward for the Bulldogs, finally broke free and headed straight for Central's goal with just one defender trailing him.

Tiger keeper Austin Bagley came out of the net to stop McClinton, who flipped the ball over the diving Bagley and in front of Johnson, who was following the play from the left side.

"Those two guys have played together for a long time," Sikeston coach Doyle Noe said. "The keeper came out to challenge Tyler and he was able to flick it over the keeper, and Adam ran with him and he was there to hammer it in for the goal."