"It was just nice to finish such a tough season on a positive note, to score a beautiful goal and keep our first clean sheet in the last game was a nice way to end," he said.
It was a matter of what might have been for the club.
"We've got six points from our last three games and that's more than the entire season put together and what's better is that we've played some good football," he said.
"If the season started now I think it would be a very different story - everyone seems to have finally clicked and... if the season started today, I think we might have finished in the top half," he said.
Instead they finished two points behind Claudelands Rovers and will be relegated. What happens next year is now up in the air but Johnston said there was a feeling of relief in the side that the season was over.
He said despite the uncertainty about next season, Saturday's performance proved that Northland can foot it in the Northern Football League.
The reserves also had a good win to finish the season in a respectable fourth place in their competition.
Rick Bazeley, Cody Lacour and Darren Green were the scorers as the home side had the better of the match and were cruising until Te Atatu scored a late goal to make the final few minutes interesting.
