Johnstone Burgh secured the three points in this afternoon's Scottish Lowland League West match, with a hard-fought but well-deserved 3-2 win over a determined Newton Stewart side at a sunny Keanie Park, Johnstone.
Burgh manager Stevie Farrell made four changes from the starting XI that played in the 3-1 defeat to Pollok at Newlandsfield Park on Wednesday night (19th August). Out went Lewis King, Scott Forrester, Calvin McGrory and Kristopher Kerr, and in came Scott Williamson, Mark Durnan, Broque Watson and club captain Del Esplin.
The home side were the first to threaten in the 2nd minute as Aaron Mason had a clear sight of goal, but his right-foot shot from 22 yards went just wide of the left-hand post.
Newton Stewart had the next chance of the match in the 7th minute. Martin McClorley found himself with some space, but his low right-foot shot from 20 yards went wide of the right-hand post.
The next chance of the match came for the Burgh in the 9th minute when Malky McDonald found Broque Watson in some space 20 yards from goal, but his left-foot shot went over the crossbar. Just a minute later, the home side created another good opening when Aaron Mason's fine pass found Kian Gilday on the left-hand side of the box, but his first-time left-foot shot from 14 yards was saved by Newton Stewart goalkeeper Mark Thompson.
The away side had a great chance to take the lead in the 10th minute when a slack pass from Aaron Mason was intercepted by Harry Mitchell, who then ran towards goal, but his left-foot shot from 20 yards hit the top of the crossbar and went out for a goal kick.
Johnstone Burgh came close to taking the lead in the 19th minute as Ian McShane's inswinging right-foot free kick from the left-hand side found Malky McDonald, but his glancing header from 8 yards was brilliantly tipped onto the inside of the right-hand post by Mark Thompson.
"The Creesiders" were next to threaten in the 34th minute. Aaron Drysdale's right-foot cross from the left wing found Harry Mitchell in the centre of the box, but his header from 8 yards was saved by Burgh goalkeeper Brett Long.
Johnstone Burgh finally took the lead in the 39th minute as Ian McShane's inswinging corner kick from the left found Mark Barrowman at the back post. Barrowman then headed the ball into the path of Mark Durnan, and the former Dumbarton man made no mistake as he fired a left-foot volley into the top right-hand corner of the net from 8 yards.
With half-time approaching, the Burgh doubled their lead in the 45th minute with a superb team goal. Del Esplin's brilliant long-range pass found Thomas Orr on the left wing. Orr then showed brilliant skill and determination to firstly take the ball past Dylan Fraser, then past Zak Service before finding himself in a great position in the box to score, but the former Cumnock Juniors man showed great awareness to square the ball to Broque Watson, who rolled the ball into the net with his right foot from 8 yards to secure a 2-0 half-time lead.
Half-time: 2-0
The home side had the first chance of the second half in the 48th minute as Malky McDonald found himself with some space outside the box, but his right-foot shot from 22 yards was deflected wide of the right-hand post.
Newton Stewart pulled a goal back in the 61st minute when Harry Mitchell passed the ball to Aaron Drysdale on the right-hand side of the box, before producing a fine right-foot cross to the back post which found club captain Marc Whyte, who nodded the ball over the line from 3 yards.
Johnstone Burgh hit back five minutes later to score their third goal of the match in the 66th minute as Kristopher Kerr put through a crisp pass to find Thomas Orr on the left-hand side of the box. Orr once again showed brilliant awareness as he squared the ball to Broque Watson, who was yet again in the right place at the right time, and he rolled the ball into the net with his right foot from 4 yards.
The Burgh had a good chance to score their fourth goal in the 73rd minute as the ball broke to Max Kerr, who ran into the box, but his left-foot shot from 16 yards went just over the crossbar.
Newton Stewart continued to be a threat and scored their second goal of the match in the 81st minute. Club captain Marc Whyte's fine right-foot cross from the left-hand side found Aaron Drysdale at the back post. Drysdale then produced a fine downward header into the right-hand corner of the net from 8 yards.
The final clear-cut chance of the match came for Johnstone Burgh in the 3rd minute of added time as Malky McDonald's pass found Gabriel Nosa in space inside the box, but his low right-foot shot from 8 yards was well saved by Mark Thompson. The referee blew for full-time to ensure the three points would be staying at Keanie Park.
Following today's 3-2 victory, Johnstone Burgh climb one place in the table to 9th, with 8 points after 5 matches played.
Full-time: 3-2
Johnstone Burgh FC goals: Durnan 39, Watson 45+66
Newton Stewart FC goals: Whyte 61, Drysdale 81
Man of the Match: Broque Watson
Johnstone Burgh FC: Long, Williamson (King 78), Gilday (Murphy 36), Barrowman, Durnan, Esplin (C), Watson (K. Kerr 68), McDonald, Orr (Nosa 68), McShane, Mason (M. Kerr 68).
Unused subs: Scullion (GK), Forrester
Newton Stewart FC: Thompson, Murray, Service, Fraser, Halliday (Caygill 69), Whyte (C), Mitchell, Drysdale, McMillan, McKeand, McClorley (McCulloch 69).
Unused subs: Humphries (GK), Agnew, Kiltie
Referee: Ross Donaldson
Assistant Referee 1: Jordan Brownlee
Assistant Referee 2: Zach Padelopoulous
A big thank you to the supporters of both Johnstone Burgh and Newton Stewart for attending today's match at Keanie Park. We wish our visitors from Newton Stewart a safe journey back home.
Next up for Johnstone Burgh is Dalbeattie Star at Keanie Park in the Scottish Lowland League West on Saturday 29th August. Kick-off is at 3pm.
#MonTheBurgh
By John Armour
