Johnstone Burgh produced a fine 2-0 win against an impressive Knightswood side in their third pre-season match of the new season at Keanie Park, Johnstone.
Burgh manager Stevie Farrell made seven changes from the starting XI that played in the 2-0 win away to St Roch’s two weeks ago. Out went Scott Williamson, Aiden O’Neill, Scott Forrester, Stuart Faulds, Malky McDonald, Nicholas Gallagher and Leon Murphy, while Lewis King, Kian Gilday, Mark Barrowman (Trialist), Del Esplin, Ian McShane, Aaron Mason and Thomas Orr came into the side.
The Burgh made the perfect start by opening the scoring after just 53 seconds. Kristopher Kerr showed determination to get a shot on goal from eight yards, which was saved by Omar Joof, but the ball fell to Thomas Orr, who was on hand to tap it into the net from six yards.
The home side had the next chance to score in the 7th minute. Thomas Orr put a good cross into the box from the right-hand side, which found Aaron Mason, but his header from around eight yards went over the crossbar.
Knightswood had their first chance of the match in the 9th minute. The ball fell to Cole Gibson, who fired a powerful left-foot shot from 20 yards just over the crossbar.
The away side produced a fine move in the 21st minute. Ryan Porter threaded a lovely through ball to Alex Fairlie to put him through on goal, but his right-foot shot from 12 yards was brilliantly saved by Brett Long.
Knightswood were playing well and had the next chance to score in the 29th minute. Ross Donaldson ran onto a long ball on the right-hand side of the box before hitting a powerful right-foot shot on the bounce from 12 yards that was superbly tipped over the bar by Brett Long.
The Glasgow side continued to push for an equaliser before half-time. William Plommer had a sight of goal, but his right-foot shot from around 28 yards went over the crossbar in the 38th minute.
Despite Knightswood having the majority of the play and the clearer chances in the first half, it was Johnstone Burgh who scored the second goal of the match to double their lead in the 39th minute. Ian McShane put a dangerous ball into the box from a free-kick on the left-hand side, and Lewis King was in the right place at the right time to get the slightest of touches to divert the ball into the right-hand corner of the net from six yards.
There were no further chances in the first half, and the Burgh went into the break two goals to the good.
Half-time: 2-0
Johnstone Burgh started the second half on the front foot and had the chance to score their third goal of the afternoon in the 46th minute. Kristopher Kerr found himself some space around 25 yards from goal, but his left-foot shot was easily saved by Omar Joof.
The Burgh were having most of the play and the next chance fell to Lewis King in the 58th minute. Kristopher Kerr’s corner from the right found the former Vale of Leven man, but his right-foot shot from 12 yards was saved by Joof.
The home side continued to push for a third goal and had another chance to do so in the 66th minute. Kristopher Kerr laid the ball off to Kian Gilday, but his first-time powerful left-foot shot from 25 yards was once again saved by Omar Joof.
Knightswood had a quiet second half in the final third, but they had a chance to pull a goal back in the 82nd minute. Jamie McFarlane had a sight of goal from around 25 yards, but his well-struck right-foot shot went over the crossbar.
The away side had their final chance to score in the 88th minute. From a clever corner from the right, the ball found Richard Tambwe, but his first-time right-foot shot from 12 yards went just over the crossbar.
Johnstone Burgh came close to adding a third goal in the 89th minute. With Omar Joof in no-man’s land and well off his line, the ball arrived at the feet of Max Kerr just outside the box on the right-hand side, but his left-foot shot from around 20 yards was headed off the line.
The final chance of the match fell to Johnstone Burgh’s latest signing, Scott Williamson, in the 90th minute. The ball broke to the former Motherwell man, who showed some nice skill just inside the box to create a good opening for himself, but his right-foot shot from 16 yards went high and wide of the right-hand post.
The referee blew the full-time whistle on the 90-minute mark to bring an end to a match played in the best of spirits. Both teams made several changes in the second half, with all 10 outfield substitutes getting on the pitch for the Burgh.
Next up for the Burgh is a trip to Winton Park to face Ardrossan Winton Rovers in their fourth pre-season friendly of the new season on Tuesday, 14th July. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Full-time: 2-0
Johnstone Burgh goals: Orr 1, King 39