Johnstone Burgh's run of poor results continued, as they lost 3-2 to Arthurlie, at a sunny Keanie Park, Johnstone.

Burgh manager, Murdo MacKinnon, made two changes from the starting 11 that lost 2-0 to Beith Juniors on Tuesday, 3rd March, with Stuart Faulds replacing club captain Del Esplin and Darren Christie coming in for Aaron Mason.

The home side had the first chance of the match after 8 minutes. Kyle Lafferty played a long ball down the right wing to Broque Watson, who produced a fine pass into the box for Blair Rossiter, but the Burgh top scorer couldn't get a good connection and his left foot shot from 8 yards went wide of the left hand post.

Kyle Lafferty had the next chance of the match after 21 minutes. Darren Christie flicked a header from the edge of the box to the former Rangers man, but his left foot strike from 10 yards, in the right hand side of the box, went high and wide of the left hand post.

At the half hour mark, Arthurlie would have their first chance of the match through Ewan McPherson. The Arthurlie number 11 found some space at the right hand side of the box, but his effort from 18 yards went high over the crossbar.

In the 34th minute, Broque Watson had a sight of goal at the edge of the box, but his powerful right foot shot went wide of the right hand post.

36 minutes into the match, it would be Arthurlie who would open the scoring. Mark Taylor produced some fine footwork around 30 yards from goal. He then fed a lovely through ball straight to Sean Slaven, who fired a fine right foot shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net, 8 yards from goal.

With half time approaching, Arthurlie would score their 2nd goal of the game in the 45th minute. Once again it would be Mark Taylor who would provide the assist. The Arthurlie number 9 produced some very skillful and determined play on the right wing, and then fired in a brilliant cross straight to Sean Slaven, who headed the ball high into the net past Luke Scullion, 6 yards from goal.

"The Lie" would lead 2-0 at half time

Half time: 0-2

In the 46th minute, the impressive Mark Taylor picked the ball up 30 yards from goal, and yet again showed some fine skill by creating himself an opening from the edge of the box, but his low shot was easily saved by Scullion.

As Johnstone Burgh searched for the goal that would get them back into the game, it would be Kyle Lafferty who would come close to doing just that in the 51st minute. His brilliant looping header from 8 yards at the back post, thanks to a fine cross from the right by Darren Christie, was superbly saved by Arthurlie goalkeeper Sam Gibson.

In the 55th minute, the Burgh would get the goal that would get them back into the game. Ian McShane whipped a dangerous ball into the back post from a direct free kick on the right, which found Broque Watson who saw his effort saved by Gibson, but the ball would fall to the right foot of Cammy Eadie who volleyed the ball high into the net, 6 yards from goal.

Just before the one hour mark, Ewan McPherson had a great chance for Arthurlie, but his left foot effort went well off target from 10 yards, following a good pass into the box from Mark Taylor.

In the 63rd minute, Arthurlie would add their third goal of the afternoon. A good old fashioned punt up the park caused havoc for Burgh defender Cammy Eadie, who misjudged a bouncing ball which then allowed Mark Taylor to nip in and produce a lovely lobbed finish from the edge of the box into the net, over the head of Luke Scullion.

In the 69th minute, the home side had a shout for a penalty, after Kyle Lafferty went down just inside the box, but the referee waved play on.

In the 74th minute, Arthurlie almost added goal number four through Aaron Healy, who ran on to a hopeful long ball down the left hand side, but with the goal at the mercy his right foot shot went just wide of the right hand post, 8 yards from goal.

As the match entered the first minute of added time, Johnstone Burgh would score their second goal of the match via Leon Murphy, who fired a fine left foot volley into the left hand corner of the net from the right side of the box, 14 yards from goal.

In the 93rd minute, the home side had a chance to grab a dramatic late equaliser. Aaron Mason passed the ball to Leon Murphy on the left hand side, who then produced a dangerous left foot cross into the box, but Danny O'Neill couldn't get enough power on his glancing header from 6 yards, which was saved by Gibson.

Arthurlie would see out the final minute of injury time to secure the 3 points and a 3-2 win.

After today's defeat, Johnstone Burgh remain in 9th place on 24 points after 15 matches played.

Full time: 2-3

Johnstone Burgh FC goals: Eadie 55, Murphy 90+1

Arthurlie FC goals: Slaven 36,45, Taylor 63

Man Of The Match: Cammy Eadie

Starting XI: Scullion, King (Gilmartin 75), Gilday, Eadie (Forrester 66), O'Neill (C), McShane (Esplin 75), Christie (Murphy 73), Faulds, Lafferty, Rossiter, Watson (Mason 66)

As always, a huge thank you to the Johnstone Burgh supporters for your attendance at today's match at Keanie Park.

Next up for the Burgh is Hurlford United at Keanie Park under the lights, in the WoSFL Premier Division on Wednesday 11 March. Kick off is at 7:30pm.

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