Johnstone Burgh competed in the Scottish Cup this afternoon for the first time in their 69 year history and emerged victorious, beating Irvine Meadow XI 4-1.
There were a number of changes for the visitors. Murdo MacKinnon was back in the dugout, having missed the previous two matches, and he was forced to make three changes to the squad that had started the opening three games of the season - Scott Forrester, Kyle Lafferty and Allan MacKenzie replacing Matty Grant, Stuart Faulds and Ciaran Diver, who all sat out with injuries.
Burgh's first opportunity came in the fifth minute after captain Del Esplin was tripped by Irvine Meadow captain, and former Burgh midfielder, Ross McKenzie about 28 yards from goal. Blair Rossiter, Kyle Lafferty and Ian McShane all stood over it, but it was McShane who took it, giving Medda keeper Jamie Barclay a comfortable save to make.
Although the hosts started brightly, they failed to test Burgh keeper Luke Scullion.
Burgh were awarded another free kick in the 11th minute. A long ball forward by Cammy Eadie was flicked on by Allan MacKenzie to Kian Gilday. The Burgh left back was the furthest man forward and turned his defender brilliantly. However, as he was being turned inside out by Gilday, Medda defender Lyall Holding lost his footing and grabbed a hold of Gilday's shirt, pulling him to the ground and preventing him facing Barclay one on one. Referee Josh Hay was well positioned to award the free kick and produced a red card to Holding.
Burgh executed the free kick perfectly, with Lafferty and Rossiter standing over this one. With the free kick favouring a right footed player, Lafferty looked as though he would take it as he made his run up. However, the Northern Irishman stepped over the ball, fooling the wall who jumped. With the wall a little disjointed, Rossiter saw the perfect gap as he struck it sweetly through the wall and into the bottom corner, as he added to his own goal of the season competition.
The 10 men looked to hit back quickly, as a cross into the box saw Euan Baird lose Eadie and all the Medda attacker had to was direct it towards goal but somehow he managed to volley it over the bar.
Burgh had a chance to double their lead in the 20th minute when Aaron Mason pounced on Jack Wilson, who'd failed to control a pass. The Burgh winger stole the ball off him and raced into the box before cutting it back onto his right foot and dinking it across to MacKenzie, who headed it back across goal but, unfortunately, there were no red shirts and the danger was over for the hosts.
The two attackers combined again a minute later. Another long ball forward from Eadie was met, this time, by MacKenzie. He ran at the Irvine defence before cutting back and laying it off to Mason, who looked to bend it into the bottom corner but his effort went wide.
Five minutes later, Burgh had another chance. Mason and Gilday were linking up superbly on the left wing throughout the match and they did so again on this occasion. Gilday, on the half way, played a pass forward to Mason. Gilday followed it up and made the overlapping run before receiving the ball back from Mason. The left back put a cross into the box for MacKenzie, but it was just behind MacKenzie and the striker's header was off target.
The home side had a half chance of their own in the 27th minute when a free kick was launched forward from the half way line. It was headed across goal by a home player, and Kyle Caig leapt up to try and divert it goalwards, but was just unable to to get anything on it.
In the 31st minute, MacKenzie's cross was blocked, resulting in a Burgh corner. Rossiter opted to play it back to McShane, who was completely unmarked about 20 yards out. The midfielder struck it first time, but failed to test Barclay as the ball sailed out of the ground.
On 36 minutes, Irvine Meadow had a free kick about 30 yards from goal. It was played into McKenzie on the edge of the box, who attempted to play it first time for Caig, but the striker was out-muscled by Forrester who shielded the ball into the arms of Scullion.
Irvine Meadow were enjoying a good spell of pressure and had another effort three minutes later. McKenzie played it through to another former Burgh player Jojo Gillespie but Gillespie didn't make proper contact with his strike and it trickled through to Scullion.
Two minutes later, Burgh were awarded a free kick, which they took quickly. McShane passed it short to Mason and although his shot had Barclay worried, it went just over the bar.
Burgh were so close to doubling their lead in the 43rd minute. Mason's cross eluded Barclay and MacKenzie, running through to Rossiter on the right. Rossiter cut in before cutting it back to Kian Gilday, who struck first time. Barclay was beaten, but Wilson has positioned himself excellently to make a goal-line clearance and preventing Gilday grabbing his first goal of the season.
Half Time: 0-1
The visitors came out after the break determined to put the game to bed, with Lafferty and Rossiter both having early chances. Whilst Lafferty's strike flew out of the ground, Rossiter's effort went just over the bar.
In the 57th minute Lafferty almost put us 2-0 up. McShane's short corner to Rossiter on the edge of the box was returned to him, and McShane put it into the box where he found Lafferty. Despite slipping as he struck, Lafferty's shot was on target. But like GIlday's chance in the first half, his shot beat Barclay but was denied by Jack Wilson on the goal line.
The home side were level on the hour mark. Scullion's clearance was intercepted just inside the opposition half by Dale Moore. The left back played it first time to Euan Baird, who raced forward, beating Eadie, and cut it back across the box where he found Jojo Gillespie, who knocked it into the net from close range.
Two minutes later, Medda had a chance to take the lead through Baird. He did well to lose two defenders, but left himself an acute angle to shoot from, and his strike his the side netting.
The match was only level for 10 minutes. A lovely cross from Mason, on his weaker foot, found Lafferty who nodded in from inside the six yard box.
Irvine Meadow searched for a way back into the match and were close to finding it in the 74th minute. A low cross from the right only needed a touch to steer it into the net but the cross was just too far ahead of Mark Curragh, who'd slid in hoping to get his boot to it.
In the 78th minute, Burgh started to get on well on top. A nice move involving Gilday, McShane and substitute Aiden Gilmartin ended with Gilday having a strike at goal, which was deflected out for a corner. The resulting corner was, again, taken short with Rossiter and McShane exchanging passes, before being played to Mason, whose effort from 20 yards went wide.
And two minutes later, Burgh had surely secured their place in the next round. The ball was moved out wide to Rossiter, who took it into box before he chipped it to the back post, where Lafferty was waiting and headed in to make it 3-1.
And two minutes after we'd made it 3-1, it was 4-1. Gilmartin used his strength to muscle the ball from Ben Ferguson. As Barclay raced out to narrow the angle, Gilmartin struck, and beat the keeper at his near post, netting his first competitive goal for The Burgh.
Burgh weren't content with four, and went for more. With five minutes remaining Forrester put a low ball into the box. The ball clipped Lafferty's heel and flew into the air. Lafferty reacted quickly attempting a bicycle kick for his hat-trick, but his shot was too high and went over the bar.
Burgh had one final chance, in the final minute of normal time. Max Kerr received the ball in the box and did brilliantly to turn his defender then get a shot away, only for Barclay to produce a fine stop.
Full Time: 1-4
Goals: Rossiter 12, Lafferty 70, 80, Gilmartin 82
Starting XI: Scullion, Forrester (Mullen 90+2), Gilday, Eadie, King, Esplin (C) (Rhys Smith 90+2), Rossiter, McShane, MacKenzie (Gilmartin 67), Lafferty (MacKinnon 88), Mason (Kerr 88)
Man Of The Match: Kyle Lafferty
Overall, the scoreline probably made it seem more comfortable than it was for us against a good Irvine Meadow side, who were much improved since we last played them in the Scottish Junior Cup back in March, and they battled hard with 10 men for much of the game. Elsewhere in the cup, Whitburn Juniors beat amateur side Steins Thistle 3-2 at Central Park, meaning we'll travel to Central Park in the second preliminary round on 30th August. Kick off time is to be confirmed.
We must also give a special mention to Ben Mullen, Rhys Smith and Ross MacKinnon, who are all Under 20s players and made their debuts for The Burgh.
Next up, it's Hurlford away on Tuesday as we return to league action. Kick off is at 7pm. Then next week we travel to Bo'ness United in the South Challenge Cup. Kick off is at 3pm. There will not be a bus running for Tuesday's game at Hurlford, but we will be running a bus for Saturday's trip to Bo'ness. To book your seat for Saturday, contact Vic Young on 07826 850856
Images of our Scottish Cup victory courtesy of Mitch, Iain and Graham
