St Roch’s 1–2 Johnstone Burgh
Goals
- Evan Galasso (17, St Roch’s)
- Lewis King (37, Burgh)
- Blair Rossiter (56, Burgh)
Johnstone Burgh secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Strathclyde Demolition West of Scotland League Cup with a hard-fought 2–1 win over St Roch’s on a chilly afternoon at The Call Robert Stadium in Glasgow.
After a quiet start, the Burgh came close to opening the scoring in the 7th minute when a Stuart Faulds cross from the right sailed over St Roch’s goalkeeper Hughes and struck the inside of the left-hand post. Seconds later, there were strong appeals for a penalty after Aaron Mason was bundled over inside the box, but the referee waved play on.
St Roch’s, known as The Candy, almost took the lead a minute later following a sharp counter-attack, but Daily’s effort from eight yards was superbly blocked by Cammy Eadie. In the 15th minute, the home side had another half-chance, although the shot from seven yards was comfortably saved by Burgh goalkeeper Luke Scullion.
The Burgh’s best chance of the half arrived after 28 minutes when Lewis King fired just wide from eight yards after meeting a dangerous Ian McShane corner from the right. Seconds later, St Roch’s threatened again on the break, with Daily dragging his shot narrowly wide from the left side of the box.
Blair Rossiter went close in the 35th minute when his free-kick from the edge of the area cleared the crossbar. Two minutes later, Johnstone Burgh took a deserved lead. Rossiter delivered a sensational free-kick from the left and Lewis King rose to power a bullet header into the net from seven yards, leaving Hughes with no chance.
With the Burgh looking set to go in ahead at the break, St Roch’s equalised on the stroke of half-time. Number 17 Evan Galasso struck a fine low effort from the edge of the box into the left-hand corner of the net, giving Scullion no chance.
St Roch’s started the second half brightly and nearly took the lead in the 49th minute, but Scullion produced an excellent save from a well-struck effort from 10 yards. The Candy came close again in the 53rd minute, only for the Burgh number one to deny another shot from the edge of the box.
The decisive moment arrived in the 56th minute. Blair Rossiter, dubbed “The Johnstone Pirlo”, cut inside from the right and unleashed a stunning left-footed strike from 25 yards into the top left-hand corner of the net to send the Burgh support wild.
Max Kerr, making his return after two months out injured, nearly made it 3–1 on 70 minutes, but his close-range effort was brilliantly saved by Hughes. A minute later, Lewis King came agonisingly close to his second of the afternoon when his powerful header struck the right-hand post following another McShane corner.
In the 74th minute, Johnstone Burgh’s latest signing Broque Watson, who joined from Tranent earlier in the week, came off the bench to make his debut.
Deep into stoppage time, St Roch’s thought they had grabbed a dramatic equaliser when the ball was fired high into the net from eight yards, but the referee had already blown for a foul on Cammy Eadie. The Burgh saw out the final seconds to secure a deserved and hard-earned victory.
Full-time: St Roch’s 1–2 Johnstone Burgh
Goals:
- Evan Galasso (17, St Roch’s)
- Lewis King (37, Burgh)
- Blair Rossiter (56, Burgh)
Johnstone Burgh starting XI:
Scullion, King, Gilday, Eadie, O’Neill, Esplin (C), Rossiter (Christie 86), Faulds, MacKenzie (Diver 74), McShane (Watson 74), Mason (Kerr 59).
St Roch’s starting XI:
Hughes (21), Slee (2), Hamilton (20), McLaren (5), O’Sullivan (15), O’Hare (12), Kennedy (C) (8), McIlveen (9), Callaghan (11), Galasso (17), Daily (23).
Man of the Match: Lewis King