Johnstone Burgh put in a five-star performance this afternoon as five different goalscorers gave Burgh a deserved 5-0 victory over Largs Thistle.

Burgh could've been ahead in the opening 40 seconds when Ciaran Diver beat the offside trap, put a low cross into the box for Aaron Mason, which was deflected to Ross Smith who rattled the crossbar with his volley.

In the fifth minute, it was 1-0. After Thistle midfielder Jamie Martin had miscontrolled a pass, Diver pounced on it as quick as a flash to win the ball. As he was being forced away from goal, he hit a reverse shot from the edge of the box acorss Largs keeper Matt Johnston into the bottom corner.

The visitors had their first effort of the match in the ninth minute through Cole Ojungu but his shot was well off target, not troubling Luke Scullion.

Burgh were dealt a blow in the 15th minute when Darren Christie went down under Conor Bradley's challenge, with Christie immediately signalling to the Burgh bench that his game was over, and was replaced by Ross Davidson two minutes later.

Largs broke forward after Jamie Martin won the ball from Ross Smith but Martin hit a wild effort, which went high and wide.

Burgh had a shout for a penalty in the 26th minute. Davidson was tripped by Ryan McCreath. There was minimal contact, but referee Ryan Kennedy felt there was not enough contact to warrant the penalty.

Two minutes later, Malky McDonald went down in the box under a challenge from former Burgh defender Kieran Brady, and this time the penalty was given. Fraser Mullen stepped up to take it and sent the keeper the wrong way to double Burgh's lead.

As the clock ticked into the 41st minute, Burgh were awarded a free kick about 15 yards inside the Largs half after Smith was barged over as he battled to win an aerial ball. Mullen took the free kick and put a delightful ball into the box for Danny O'Neill to head in to make it 3-0.

Largs had a chance to reduce the deficit before the break as the hosts failed to deal with a free kick into the box and, after bouncing about in the box, the ball fell to McCreath but his header went over Scullion's crossbar.

In the 54th minute, Burgh were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the box after Smith was bundled over. With the free kick too close to goal to go above or around the wall, Mullen decided to hit it low back across goal, and Matt Johnston, rooted to his spot, could only watch and breathe a sigh of relief as the ball cannoned back off the post.

Ross Urquhart had a chance to get one back for the visitors two minutes later when a low cutback set him up to strike first time but Kian Gilday did brilliantly to close down the shot from point blank range.

Although there were periods in the second half where Burgh would, perhaps take their foot off the gas, they remained fully focused and alert, and never allowed complacency to creep in.

Ojungu had a long range effort for the away side but it was always going high and wide from the moment it left his boot.

In the 82nd minute, substitute Allan MacKenzie added his name to the list of goal scorers with a beautiful lob over Johnston after he'd shaken off Brady to win a long ball from Cammy Eadie.

Just 54 seconds later Aaron Mason, who'd given the Largs defence a torrid time all afternoon finally got the goal his performance merited. He was first onto a loose pass, nutmegged Brady before facing Johnston one on one and he rifled it into the roof of the net.

Ojungu had one final chance for the visitors when the ball was cut back to him, but he got underneath the strike and skied it well over the bar.

Half Time: 3-0

Full Time: 5-0

Goals: Diver (5), Mullen (29)(P), O'Neill (41), MacKenzie (82), Mason (83)

Starting XI: Scullion, Mullen, Gilday, Eadie, O'Neill, Esplin (C), Christie (Davidson 17), McDonald (S McCann 76), Diver (MacKenzie 70), Smith (Rossiter 76), Mason

Man Of The Match: TBC (cast your vote here)

Burgh showed a real hunger and desire this afternoon, and the scoreline certainly reflected that. Luke Scullion, who has been so impressive all season, didn't have a single save to make. And with Burgh hitting both the post and the bar, we could have had even more than just five. Although the visitors had rotated their squad somewhat today, we still showed what we're capable of and we'll be hoping to repeat this performance in two weeks when we play them again in the second leg of our Scottish Junior Cup semi final.

Before that though, we play Beith away on Wednesday night (19:15), before Benburb away on Saturday (14:00) and ending our league season a week on Tuesday at home to Drumchapel United (19:30). Elsewhere, Troon were thrashed 4-1 by Gartcairn (which wasn't enough to keep Gartcairn up as they were relegated alongside Darvel), meaning our victory today takes us up to 2nd in the league, leapfrogging Troon.

Thank you to all who came to Keanie Park today to cheer the lads on to an impressive victory.

Below, is a selection of images from today's match. Further images can be viewed here and here.