Cumnock Juniors see off Johnstone Burgh with three-goal win

Johnstone Burgh suffered a frustrating 3-0 defeat to an in-form Cumnock Juniors side at Townhead Park in Cumnock.

Burgh manager Murdo MacKinnon named the same starting XI that began the 0-0 draw against Glenafton Athletic at Keanie Park on Saturday.

The Burgh made a good start and came close to an early goal in the 3rd minute. Kyle Lafferty flicked the ball on to Broque Watson, who then found Darren Christie with a crisp pass, but his right-foot shot from just inside the box flew just over the crossbar.

Cumnock Juniors’ first attempt at goal came in the 14th minute. Andrew McDonald found himself some space around 40 yards from goal and tried an ambitious left-foot shot that went just over the crossbar. Just three minutes later, Cumnock had another chance, but Jamie Conn dragged his left-foot shot from just outside the box wide of the right-hand post.

“The Nock” took the lead in the 18th minute. Luke Scullion played the ball out to the left-hand side, but a misunderstanding between the Burgh defence and midfield allowed Jamie Conn to get there first. He made a fine run before delivering a crisp low pass into the box that found Thomas Orr, who took the ball around Scullion before finding the back of the net from four yards out.

Johnstone Burgh’s next chance came in the 21st minute. Blair Rossiter stepped up to take a direct free kick from 25 yards, but his left-foot shot, which was heading for the bottom left-hand corner, was well saved by Blair Currie.

Cumnock threatened again in the 29th minute. Jack Lavery found space in the middle of the park before hitting a right-foot shot from 30 yards, which was easily saved by Scullion.

The recently crowned South Region Challenge Cup winners didn’t wait long for a second goal, which came in the 32nd minute. Oliver Fisher played a long through ball to Jamie Conn, who won the duel with Kian Gilday before running in on goal and firing a right-foot shot into the bottom right-hand corner from six yards.

The final chance of the half came for the Burgh in the 35th minute. Broque Watson created an opening on the left-hand side of the box, but his right-foot shot from 16 yards went high and wide of Currie’s goal.

Cumnock Juniors went into the half-time break two goals to the good.

Johnstone Burgh made two changes at half-time, with Lewis King replacing Kian Gilday and Aaron Mason coming on for Blair Rossiter.

Cumnock almost grabbed a third in the 46th minute. Adam Forde whipped in a brilliant corner from the right-hand side which crashed off the crossbar and bounced to safety.

The home side made it 3-0 in the 52nd minute. From just outside his own box, Cammy Chalmers launched the ball up the park, causing mayhem in the centre of the Burgh defence. Thomas Orr reacted quickest and nipped in ahead of Scullion, who was around 18 yards outside his box, leaving an open goal. Orr made no mistake, stroking the ball into the net from 18 yards with his left foot.

On the hour mark, things went from bad to worse for Johnstone Burgh. Aaron Mason appeared to raise a hand towards Oliver Fisher in an off-the-ball incident near the corner flag. The referee showed no hesitation and produced a straight red card for the former Auchinleck Talbot man, much to the delight of the home crowd and the frustration of the away support.

Photo: Aaron Mason is sent off by referee
Photo Credit: Iain Rankin / Johnstone Burgh FC

In the 71st minute, Corey O’Donnell had a good chance to make it four for “The Nock”, but his right-foot shot from 14 yards was well saved by Scullion.

Cumnock were in cruise control and could have made it 4-0 in the 79th minute. Corey O’Donnell ran onto a long ball from Currie to go one-on-one with Scullion, but his right-foot shot from eight yards lacked power and was easily saved.

Johnstone Burgh’s best move came in the 86th minute. Aiden Gilmartin showed great pace and strength down the left wing before producing a quality pass to find Broque Watson in the box, but the former Tranent man’s left-foot shot from seven yards was superbly saved by Currie.

In the 87th minute, Cumnock had their final chance. Dylan Dykes played a one-two with Corey O’Donnell to create an opening, but his right-foot shot from 25 yards went just over the crossbar.

Ian McShane had one final chance to pull a goal back for the Burgh from a direct free kick around 28 yards out in the 90th minute, but his right-foot shot was easily saved by Currie.

Cumnock Juniors saw out the two minutes of added time to seal a comprehensive 3-0 win.

After the defeat, Johnstone Burgh remain in 6th place on 37 points after 21 games.

Next up for Johnstone Burgh is a trip to the Hamish B. Allan Stadium in Rutherglen to face Rutherglen Glencairn in the WoSFL Premier Division on Saturday 11th April. Kick-off is at 2pm.