Johnstone Burgh dropped to fifth place after a 3-1 defeat to Shotts Bon Accord at Hannah Park.
Burgh interim manager Graeme Ramage made four changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Beith Juniors last Saturday. Lewis King, Ben Mullen, Jude Cummins and Broque Watson came in, with Scott Forrester, Malky McDonald, Aaron Mason and Sam McGarva dropping out.
The visitors started quickly and almost led inside a minute. Blair Rossiter crossed from the right to find Jude Cummins, but his header from six yards went over.
Burgh did take the lead in the 10th minute. Aiden Gilmartin controlled a high ball from a Kian Gilday clearance before slipping a through pass with the outside of his left foot. Cummins ran through and finished low into the bottom left corner from 16 yards.
The chances kept coming. Del Esplin saw a powerful effort saved by Sandy Thomson in the 15th minute, and Rossiter’s curling shot was also kept out a minute later.
Shotts’ first real chance came in the 23rd minute when Marc McKenzie shot wide from 16 yards.
The home side equalised in the 27th minute with a long-range strike. A clearance from a long throw fell to Robbie Torrance, who fired a right-foot shot from 35 yards into the top left corner.
Shotts almost went ahead in the 33rd minute, but Ally Martin’s volley was tipped over by Luke Scullion.
The teams went in level at the break.
Burgh began the second half well. Ben Mullen had a header deflected wide in the 47th minute, and Gilday headed over a minute later.
Shotts took the lead in the 49th minute. Taylor Evans won a challenge at the edge of the box and fired high into the net from around 12 yards.
Evans should have added a third in the 65th minute after capitalising on an error, but dragged his shot wide.
Burgh had a half chance in the 70th minute when Aaron Mason’s effort from 20 yards was deflected wide.
In the 72nd minute, U20 player Noah Grady came on to make his senior debut.
Shotts sealed the win in the 88th minute. Ben Richford played Evans through on goal and he finished from eight yards.
There was a late penalty claim for the hosts in added time when Richford went down, but the referee waved play on.
Shotts saw out the final minutes to secure a deserved 3-1 win.
Following the defeat, Burgh sit fifth in the table on 44 points from 27 matches.
Full time: 3-1
Johnstone Burgh starting XI:
Scullion, Grant, Gilday, King, Mullen (McShane 72), Esplin (C), Cummins (Mason 63), Faulds, Gilmartin (MacKenzie 63), Watson (Grady 72), Rossiter
Shotts Bon Accord starting XI:
Thomson, Craig, Gracie, Torrance, Meikle, Martin, Gordon, Bowie, McGeouch, McKenzie, Evans
Subs: Larkin (GK), Hunter, Richford, Sexton, Stark, Daly, MacDonald
Next up for Johnstone Burgh is Kilwinning Rangers in the WoSFL Premier Division at Keanie Park on Saturday 9th May. Kick-off is at 2pm.
WoSFL Premier Division results
| Home team | Score | Away team |
|---|---|---|
| Arthurlie | 5-1 | Pollok |
| Glenafton Athletic | 0-3 | Cumnock Juniors |
| Largs Thistle | 1-0 | Renfrew |
| Rutherglen Glencairn | 0-1 | Kilwinning Rangers |
| Shotts Bon Accord | 3-1 | Johnstone Burgh |
| St Cadoc’s | 0-2 | Hurlford United |
WoSFL Premier Division fixtures
| Date | Kick-off | Home team | Away team | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 5th May | 7.30pm | Beith Juniors | Largs Thistle | Bellsdale Park |
| Tuesday 5th May | 7.30pm | Rutherglen Glencairn | Auchinleck Talbot | Hamish B Allan Stadium |
| Wednesday 6th May | 7.30pm | Shotts Bon Accord | Pollok | Hannah Park |
| Thursday 7th May | 7.30pm | Auchinleck Talbot | Cumnock Juniors | Beechwood Park |
| Saturday 9th May | 2pm | Arthurlie | Glenafton Athletic | Dunterlie Park |
| Saturday 9th May | 2pm | Beith Juniors | Troon | Bellsdale Park |
| Saturday 9th May | 2pm | Drumchapel United | Cumnock Juniors | Donald Dewar Centre |
| Saturday 9th May | 2pm | Hurlford United | Largs Thistle | Blair Park |
| Saturday 9th May | 2pm | Johnstone Burgh | Kilwinning Rangers | Keanie Park |
| Saturday 9th May | 2pm | Pollok | Auchinleck Talbot | Newlandsfield |
| Saturday 9th May | 2pm | Rutherglen Glencairn | Renfrew | Hamish B Allan Stadium |
| Saturday 9th May | 2pm | St Cadoc’s | Shotts Bon Accord | New Tinto Park |
WoSFL Premier Division table
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Troon | 28 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 58 | 30 | 28 | 61 |
| 2 | Cumnock Juniors | 27 | 19 | 3 | 5 | 52 | 24 | 28 | 60 |
| 3 | Auchinleck Talbot | 24 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 71 | 25 | 46 | 54 |
| 4 | Largs Thistle | 27 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 50 | 36 | 14 | 45 |
| 5 | Johnstone Burgh | 27 | 14 | 2 | 11 | 47 | 42 | 5 | 44 |
| 6 | Arthurlie | 28 | 13 | 3 | 12 | 70 | 60 | 10 | 42 |
| 7 | Hurlford United | 28 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 49 | 51 | -2 | 42 |
| 8 | Pollok | 27 | 13 | 2 | 12 | 41 | 40 | 1 | 41 |
| 9 | Kilwinning Rangers | 28 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 56 | 48 | 8 | 40 |
| 10 | Renfrew | 28 | 12 | 3 | 13 | 52 | 47 | 5 | 39 |
| 11 | Drumchapel United | 27 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 49 | 57 | -8 | 36 |
| 12 | Glenafton Athletic | 28 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 36 | 63 | -27 | 33 |
| 13 | Beith Juniors | 27 | 9 | 4 | 14 | 33 | 46 | -13 | 31 |
| 14 | Shotts Bon Accord | 27 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 42 | 47 | -5 | 27 |
| 15 | Rutherglen Glencairn | 27 | 7 | 2 | 18 | 29 | 60 | -31 | 23 |
| 16 | St Cadoc’s | 28 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 23 | 82 | -59 | 9 |