Johnstone Burgh make it three in a row with 4-2 win over Drumchapel United

Johnstone Burgh won their third consecutive WoSFL Premier Division match, as they produced a convincing 4-2 win over Drumchapel United, under the lights at a chilly Keanie Park in Johnstone.

Burgh manager Murdo MacKinnon made 6 changes to the starting XI, that lost 2-1 to Dundee North End on Saturday in The Scottish Communities Cup quarter final. Out went Lewis King, Danny O’Neill, Del Esplin, Stuart Faulds, Darren Christie and Aidan Gilmartin. In came Matty Grant, who was making his first start in almost 8 months due to a serious injury, Craig Menzies, Ian McShane, Blair Rossiter, Malky McDonald and U20 Development player, Jude Cummins, who was making his first start for the senior team.

The first real chance of the match fell to Aaron Mason in the 11th minute. The Burgh winger showed determination to win the ball, before firing a low, right foot shot from 20 yards which was saved by Drumchapel United goalkeeper Jacob Pazikas.

In the 14th minute Blair Rossiter came close to giving the Keanie Park side the lead. The Burgh’s top scorer produced some clever skill outside the box, but his low left foot shot from 20 yards, which looked to be heading into the bottom right hand corner of the net, was brilliantly saved by Pazikas.

Johnstone Burgh’s early pressure would finally pay off, and they would take the lead in the 16th minute. Aaron Mason collected the ball around 30 yards from goal and fed it to Malky McDonald, who then fired a brilliant right foot shot low into the bottom left hand corner of the net from 20 yards.

The Burgh came close to doubling their lead in the 18th minute. Blair Rossiter’s corner found Scott Forrester, but his header from 8 yards came off the right hand post.

Drumchapel United had made a quiet start to the match, but came close to an equaliser in the 20th minute. Bradley Rodden ran on to a long ball to be through on goal, but his left foot shot was well saved by Luke Scullion. A minute later “The Drum” had another great chance. David Hopkirk ran on to another long ball, to nick the ball ahead of Luke Scullion just outside the box, but captain for the evening, Craig Menzies blocked the striker’s goal bound effort.

Johnstone Burgh were looking for their second goal of the evening, and following some clever play, Blair Rossiter created a good opening for Aaron Mason, but his first time right foot shot from 20 yards went just over the crossbar in the 26th minute.

The Burgh would finally get goal number 2 in the 37th minute. Broque Watson made a powerful run from just inside the Drumchapel United half and then fed the ball to Blair Rossiter, who fired a low left foot shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net from 20 yards.

Just 2 minutes later, Drumchapel United pulled a goal back through former Beith Juniors captain, Paul Frize, who nodded the ball into the net from a yard out, following a knock down from a corner kick.

The Burgh were once again looking to open up a 2 goal lead, and came close through Jude Cummins, who from 6 yards, headed Aaron Mason’s brilliant cross just wide of the left hand post in the 41st minute.

The final chance of the first half, fell to Scott Forrester, who would see his header, from around 12 yards from goal, hit the top of the crossbar following a Blair Rossiter free kick.

The Burgh would lead 2-1 at the interval.

Johnstone Burgh would go 3-1 up in the 52nd minute after Kian Gilday headed the ball to Aaron Mason, who from around 15 yards inside the Drumchapel half, would go on a brilliant run, dribbling the ball past a couple of players in the process, before firing a lovely low right foot shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

In the 62nd minute, Ian McShane had a chance to score direct from a free kick from around 25 yards, but his well struck right foot shot was saved by Pazikas.

The Burgh were cruising in the 2nd half and the hard working and impressive Jude Cummins did well to win a penalty, after he was fouled in the middle of the box. Up stepped Broque Watson, from 12 yards, but his low attempt was saved by Pazikas just right of centre and the scoreline would remain 3-1 with 74 minutes on the clock.

With just five minutes left of normal time remaing, the Burgh had yet another chance to make it goal number four. Ian McShane floated a lovely free kick to the back post that found Blair Rossiter, but his first time left foot volley, from around 10 yards, was again well saved by Pazikas.

In the 88th minute, the fourth goal would finally come for the Johnstone side. Leon Murphy won the ball and drove forward before passing to Blair Rossiter, who fired a powerful left foot strike into the right hand corner of the net from 20 yards.

A minute later, Broque Watson fouled Billy Owens just inside the box, and the referee wasted no time in pointing to the spot. Up stepped David Hopkirk, who made no mistake, as he calmly placed his right foot shot into the middle of the net.

Johnstone Burgh would see out the last few minutes of the match to secure a 4-2 win and a much needed 3 points.

After this evening’s win, Johnstone Burgh move up to 7th place in the table, on 33 points after 18 matches played.

Next up for Johnstone Burgh is a trip to Beechwood Park to face Auchinleck Talbot in The Strathclyde Demolition West of Scotland League Cup quarter final on Saturday 28th March. Kick off is at 2pm.