Johnstone Burgh produced a near flawless display as they cruised to a sensational 5-0 win over Glenafton Athletic, on a cold, wet Tuesday evening at Loch Park, New Cumnock.

The Keanie Park side made three changes from the team that started the 3-1 win over Largs Thistle at home on Saturday, with Leon Murphy, Aaron Mason and Ciaran Diver coming in to replace Ian McShane, Broque Watson and Allan MacKenzie.

After a quiet opening to the game, the Burgh's Kian Gilday had the first attempt at goal of the evening as his well struck low shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Glenafton goalkeeper, Ollie Ecrepont, in the 9th minute.

The Johnstone side would take the lead in the 14th minute as Blair Rossiter whipped a dangerous ball into the box from a free kick on the left channel, straight to Ciaran Diver who produced a powerful downward header from seven yards out that was brilliantly saved by Ecrepont, but Diver was on hand to force the ball into the net from barely a yard out to open the scoring.

Leon Murphy, making a rare start for the Burgh, had the next chance of the game, but dragged his left foot shot wide 20 yards from goal after 19 minutes.

Aaron Mason had an even better chance to add to Johnstone Burgh's lead, as he ran into the box following a clever headed flick on by Ciaran Diver, but the former Auchinleck Talbot man could only fire the ball over the bar, from eight yards out in the 23rd minute.

Glenafton Athletic had barely threatened in the first half but came close to levelling the match as Glens number 5, Ollie Rowe, produced a powerful shot 40 yards from goal that flew just wide of Burgh goalkeeper, Luke Scullion's, left hand post after 35 minutes.

The Burgh would add their second goal of the evening in the 39th minute, following good attacking play and pressure applied by Leon Murphy and Ciaran Diver. The ball broke to the in-form Blair Rossiter at the edge of the box, who fired a lovely left foot strike into the bottom left hand corner of the net, leaving Ecrepont with no chance.

As half time approached, Aaron Mason fired over the bar 16 yards from goal after 42 minutes. The final effort of the half would come from the Glens, but Callum Wilson's left foot volley from 14 yards, flew well wide of the left hand post on the stroke of half time.

Half time: 0-2

As the second half started, it was all pressure from the away side, and the Burgh would get their third goal of the evening in the 61st minute. After a mix up in the box from the Glens defence, Ciaran Diver dribbled the ball around Ecrepont to leave himself an open goal from less than a yard out, but somehow didn't manage to get the ball over the line to score what looked a certain goal. As the ball was scrambled off the line by the home side's defence, it fell to Leon Murphy, who rolled the ball into the net from inside the six yard box, much to the relief of the healthy travelling Burgh support.

Leon Murphy came close to adding his second goal of the evening two minutes later, but made a poor connection eight yards from goal, following a Ciaran Diver pass.

The game continued to be played in the Glenafton half, and the Burgh would create yet another chance, but Stuart Faulds could only fire the ball over the bar from 20 yards, in the 67th minute. Just a minute later, Ciaran Diver came even closer to adding to the away side's lead, but his effort was well saved by Ecrepont from close range.

Cammy Eadie came close to adding goal number four for Johnstone Burgh in the 80th minute, but his close range header from an Ian McShane corner was well blocked by the Glens' defender.

The fourth goal of the night would finally come for the Keanie Park side, as Aiden Gilmartin's powerful header flew high into the net four yards from goal, after a brilliant Ian McShane corner from the right hand side in the 85th minute.

The Burgh would add their fifth goal of the game as full time approached. The away side would win a penalty, as Allan MacKenzie was a victim of a poor tackle in the box while baring down on goal, but it would be Johnstone Burgh's latest signing, Broque Watson, who would convert from the spot as he stroked the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net, past a helpless Ecrepont in the 89th minute.

The final whistle would blow a minute later, to seal a very impressive 5-0 win for Johnstone Burgh, over a Glenafton Athletic side that had caused them serious problems in the two previous meetings played at Loch Park earlier in the season.

The three points earned in New Cumnock tonight sees the Burgh move up to 8th place in the table, with 24 points, after 11 games played.

Full time: 0-5

Goals: Diver 14, Rossiter 39, Murphy 61, Gilmartin 85, Watson(pen) 89

Starting XI: Scullion, Forrester, Gilday, Eadie, O'Neill, Esplin, Mason (Watson 73), Faulds (McShane 68), Diver (MacKenzie 73), Rossiter (Gilmartin 73), Murphy (Christie 68)

Man Of The Match:

Once again, a huge thank you to all the Johnstone Burgh supporters who travelled to Loch Park, New Cumnock tonight. Your support, as always, is greatly appreciated. Next up for Johnstone Burgh is a trip on Saturday 14th February to play Shotts Bon Accord in the WOSFL at Hannah Park, Shotts.

© Match Report: John
© Images: Mitch, Graham, Iain