Saint Anthony's 0 - 2 Johnstone Burgh
Johnstone Burgh cruised into the third round of the South Region Challenge Cup after a 2-0 win over WoSFL Division 3 side Saint Anthony's in a heavily one-sided match at McKenna Park, Glasgow.
Burgh manager Stevie Farrell made eight changes from the starting XI that beat Dalbeattie Star 4-0 at Keanie Park last weekend. Out went Brett Long, Mark Barrowman, Mark Durnan, Ian McShane, Malky McDonald, Broque Watson, Aaron Mason and Thomas Orr. In came Luke Scullion, Lewis King, Scott Forrester, Stuart Faulds, Noah Grady, Max Kerr, Kristopher Kerr and Gabriel Nosa, who was making his first start for the club since joining on loan from Partick Thistle.
The away side had their first chance to score in the 9th minute as Max Kerr found himself with some space just outside the box, but his left-foot shot was deflected over the crossbar. The Burgh had another opening in the 15th minute when the ball broke to Stuart Faulds around 20 yards from goal, but his low right-foot shot went just wide of the left-hand post.
Johnstone Burgh were well on top and won a penalty in the 18th minute. Leon Murphy ran into the left-hand side of the box and was brought down around 16 yards from goal by Saint Anthony's defender Matthew Montgomery. Up stepped Gabriel Nosa from 12 yards, but his right-foot strike was diverted onto the crossbar by Saint Anthony's goalkeeper Harry Purves, and the rebound was headed over the crossbar from eight yards by Noah Grady.
The Burgh continued to push for the opening goal and had two efforts in quick succession in the 21st minute. Firstly, Stuart Faulds showed some nice skill in the box to create an opening, but his low right-foot shot from eight yards was saved by Purves at his near post. Max Kerr then tried his luck, but his low left-foot shot from 22 yards was once again saved by Purves.
Johnstone Burgh's pressure finally paid off in the 36th minute. Max Kerr lined up a direct free kick 22 yards from goal, and the winger produced a moment of magic as he curled a brilliant left-foot shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
The Keanie Park side almost doubled their lead in the 44th minute as Max Kerr's cross from the right-hand side found Leon Murphy, but his first-time left-foot shot from around eight yards crashed off the crossbar.
The Burgh had a half-chance to score in the first minute of first-half stoppage time when the ball broke to Scott Forrester inside the box, but his high right-foot shot from eight yards was saved by Purves to ensure the away side went into the half-time break just one goal ahead.
Half-time: 0-1
Johnstone Burgh's first chance of the second half came in the 49th minute as Kristopher Kerr's cross from the left found Noah Grady, but his powerful first-time right-foot shot went over the crossbar from 16 yards. Max Kerr was next to threaten for the away side in the 52nd minute, but his left-foot shot from 25 yards flew over the crossbar.
Saint Anthony's were defending well but were offering no threat in attack, with not a single attempt on goal recorded as the midway point in the second half was reached. The Burgh had another chance to score in the 68th minute when Broque Watson had a sight of goal, but his right-foot shot from eight yards was blocked.
It continued to be one-way traffic for Johnstone Burgh, and their next chance to extend their lead came in the 75th minute. Thomas Orr put the ball across the face of goal to find Max Kerr at the back post, but his left-foot shot from six yards was deflected off the left-hand post.
The Burgh finally killed Saint Anthony's hopes by scoring their second goal in the 86th minute when Thomas Orr laid the ball off to Malky McDonald, who then unleashed an unstoppable left-foot shot that found the left-hand corner of the net off the post.
The away side had one final chance to score again in the 89th minute as Ian McShane found himself in some space, but his low right-foot shot from 18 yards was saved by Purves. The referee blew the full-time whistle in the third minute of added time to confirm Johnstone Burgh's place in the third-round draw. Saint Anthony's fought hard and never gave up, but their ultimate downfall was being toothless in attack and failing to register a single attempt on Luke Scullion's goal.
Full-time: 0-2
Johnstone Burgh FC goals: M. Kerr 36, McDonald 86
Man of the Match: Max Kerr
Saint Anthony's FC: Purves, Montgomery, Cridge, McLaughlin (C), Black, McPhail, Good (Gray 62), Nicholson (Parker 70), Murray (Sherriff 62), Canavan, Devlin (Fox 84).
Unused subs: Lorimer (GK), Johnstone, McIntyre.
Johnstone Burgh FC: Scullion, Williamson (McShane 59), Murphy, King, Forrester, Esplin (C), K. Kerr (Watson 64), Faulds, Nosa (Orr 59), Grady (McDonald 64), M. Kerr.
Unused subs: Long (GK), Durnan, Barrowman.
A big thank you to all the Johnstone Burgh supporters who travelled to McKenna Park this afternoon. We wish our hosts, "The Ants", all the best for the rest of the season.
Next up for Johnstone Burgh is a trip to Broadwood Stadium to face Cumbernauld Colts in the Scottish Lowland League West on Saturday 12th September. Kick-off is at 3pm.
#MonTheBurgh
By John Armour
