Johnstone Burgh started off their Lowland League West campaign with a fine 2-0 win over Troon at Keanie Park, Johnstone.

Burgh manager Stevie Farrell made just 2 changes from the starting XI that played in the 6-2 pre-season friendly win over Darvel at Recreation Park last Monday evening. Out went Broque Watson and Kyle Lafferty, and in came Malky McDonald and Thomas Orr.

It was a very low key start to the first half, with the first 26 minutes seeing not even half a chance created by either team. That finally changed in the 27th minute as Ian McShane passed the ball to Aaron Mason from a free kick, but his right foot shot from 30 yards was saved by Troon goalkeeper Martin McDonald.

Johnstone Burgh scored the opening goal of the match in the 30th minute as Ian McShane's in-swinging corner kick from the left hand side found Mark Durnan, and the former Dumbarton man made no mistake as he volleyed the ball high into the centre of the net with the outside of his right foot from 4 yards.

Troon made a quiet start to the game, but created their first chance in the 34th minute when Max Guthrie showed some good skill just outside the box before playing a clever pass to Ben Hughes, but his left foot shot from 14 yards was brilliantly blocked and diverted wide of the right hand post by Mark Durnan.

The Burgh had the final chance of the half in the 45th minute as Ian McShane's right foot shot from a direct free kick 30 yards from goal was deflected wide of the right hand post.

Johnstone Burgh went into the half time interval 1-0 ahead.

Half time: 1-0

In the 56th minute of the game, the home side had two good chances to double their lead. Firstly, Ian McShane's right foot cross from the left found Lewis King, but his powerful header from 6 yards was brilliantly tipped on to the crossbar by Martin McDonald. Secondly, Troon failed to clear Aaron Mason's cross from the left hand side properly and the ball fell to Mark Barrowman, but his right foot shot from 14 yards went just wide of the left hand post.

The Burgh were starting to dominate the match and created the next chance to score in the 58th minute. Aaron Mason had a sight of goal, but his low right foot shot from 30 yards was saved by McDonald. Just 3 minutes later, the home side had another chance to score when Mark Durnan's deflected right foot cross from the right found Malky McDonald at the back post, but his header from 6 yards was again, saved by McDonald.

Johnstone Burgh were going all out for that crucial second goal and it eventually came in the 70th minute as Ian McShane's superb first time pass from midway inside his own half released Broque Watson, who went on a driving run towards Troon's goal. He then found Aaron Mason with a slick pass on the left hand side and the former Auchinleck Talbot man then ran into the box, before unleashing a powerful right foot shot from 16 yards that flew high into the net past McDonald.

In the 74th minute, Troon came close to pulling a goal back against the run of play. Callan Veitch's in-swinging corner kick from the left hand side found Calum Gow, but the Troon captain's glancing header from 6 yards hit the inside of the right hand post and bounced into the grateful arms of Johnstone Burgh goalkeeper Brett Long.

Troon created their final chance of the match in the 89th minute as Callan Veitch's corner kick from the left hand side was deflected into the path of Sam Jamieson, but with the goal at his mercy, his header from 5 yards went just over the crossbar.

The Keanie Park side had the final chance of the match in the 90th minute as Max Kerr picked up the ball midway inside the Troon half before going on a run and releasing a powerful left foot shot from 30 yards which was well saved by McDonald.

The referee blew for full time at the end of the 3 minutes of added time to confirm the perfect start to the Lowland League West season for Johnstone Burgh.

Following tonights result, Johnstone Burgh sit in joint 8th place in the LLW table on 3 points after 1 match played.

Full time: 2-0

Johnstone Burgh goals: Durnan 30, Mason 70

Man Of The Match: TBC

Johnstone Burgh FC: Long, King, Gilday (Forrester 79), Barrowman, Durnan(C), Faulds (Esplin 85), K.Kerr (M.Kerr 79), McDonald (Watson 68), Orr (Lafferty 68), McShane, Mason.

Unused subs: Hargreaves(GK), Murphy

Troon FC: McDonald, Mills, Bronsky, Gow(C), Veitch, Guthrie (Ferguson 87), Fulton, Frew, Viviani (Craig 87), Hughes (Jamieson 78), Baird

Unused subs: Harkins(GK), Armstrong, Hamilton, Allan

Referee: Mark Daly
Assistant Referee 1: Michael McCart
Assistant Referee 2: Rays Brown

A big thank you to the supporters of both Johnstone Burgh and Troon for attending tonight's match.

Next up for Johnstone Burgh is a trip to the Albert Bartlett Stadium in Airdrie to face Celtic B in our first ever Lowland League West away fixture on Saturday 1st August. Kick off is at 3pm.

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#MonTheBurgh - By John Armour.

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