Johnstone Burgh secured a tremendous 3–1 win following a sensational second-half comeback against an in-form Largs Thistle side at Keanie Park, Johnstone.
The match started quietly but burst into life in the 14th minute as Largs Thistle took the lead through Blair Devine. He timed his run perfectly to latch onto a lovely through ball before firing a fine curling left-footed strike high into the left-hand side of the net from 16 yards, leaving Burgh goalkeeper Luke Scullion with no chance.
Johnstone Burgh had a great chance to level the match in the 22nd minute following some excellent play by club captain Del Esplin on the right-hand side of the box. He produced a fine cutback straight to the left foot of Stuart Faulds, but the former Largs Thistle skipper fired his low effort just wide of the left-hand post from eight yards out.
Largs Thistle had a half-chance to double their lead in the 26th minute, but midfielder Lewis Davidson dragged his effort wide of the right-hand post from 20 yards.
As the Burgh searched for an equaliser, Blair Rossiter forced a good save from Thistle goalkeeper George O’Connor in the 36th minute. His left-footed shot from eight yards was kept out low at the right-hand post following some neat play in the box by Burgh forward Allan MacKenzie.
There would be no further chances in the first half, and it was the Thistle who went in 1–0 ahead at the break.
The Burgh made two changes at the start of the second half, with Aaron Mason replacing Broque Watson, who had made his home debut after signing from Tranent, and Leon Murphy coming on for Ian McShane.
The Keanie Park side came flying out of the traps and levelled the match in the 47th minute. The Largs defence thought they had executed the offside trap against Allan MacKenzie, but the officials disagreed and MacKenzie continued his run. He was first to a long ball down the left channel and squared it to Blair Rossiter, who showed fine footwork in the box before slipping a lovely pass into the path of Aaron Mason. Mason timed his run perfectly, took a superb first touch and stroked the ball past O’Connor into the bottom right-hand corner of the net from 10 yards.
In the 57th minute, Thistle had a good chance to retake the lead through the dangerous Devine, but his well-struck shot from the left-hand side of the box flew just over the crossbar.
The Burgh came close to taking the lead a minute later when a fine cross from the impressive Leon Murphy on the right found Aaron Mason at the back post. After clever control and footwork, Mason dragged his low shot just wide of the left-hand post.
Johnstone Burgh went close again in the 72nd minute following a brilliant counter-attack led by Mason. The winger played a lovely pass to Stuart Faulds, but his right-footed shot from 14 yards drifted high and wide of the left-hand post with the goal at his mercy.
The pressure finally paid off in the 77th minute as the Burgh took a well-deserved lead. Blair Rossiter whipped a dangerous left-footed free-kick into the box from around 30 yards, and it was Ciaran Diver — a man who enjoys scoring against Largs Thistle — who got the slightest of touches inside the six-yard box to divert the ball past O’Connor and into the bottom left-hand corner of the net, sending the home support wild.
With the result still in the balance, Blair Rossiter produced another moment of magic in the 82nd minute. His left-footed free-kick from 20 yards on the left-hand side found the top right-hand corner of the net via the inside of the post to make sure the three points were staying at Keanie Park.
Diver almost grabbed his second — and the Burgh’s fourth — moments later, but his powerful half-volley from 18 yards was brilliantly tipped over the bar by O’Connor.
Johnstone Burgh saw out the closing stages to secure a well-deserved 3–1 victory and send Largs Thistle back down the road empty-handed.
The result moves the Burgh up to ninth place in the table, on 21 points after 10 matches played.
Photo Credit: with thanks to Johnstone Burgh