Kilwinning Rangers 0-2 Johnstone Burgh

Burgh Beat Buffs In Season Opener
Blair Rossiter Celebrates Putting The Burgh 1-0 Up

Johnstone Burgh defeated Kilwinning Rangers at Buffs Park as they kicked off their 2025/26 season with three points and a clean sheet.

Burgh started with four new signings in the starting XI. Right back Matty Grant (Stranraer), Lewis King (Vale of Leven), Stuart Faulds (Largs Thistle) and Ian McShane (East Kilbride) all made their official debuts for The Burgh.

Burgh got off to a strong start, with the first chance coming in the third minute. Matty Grant sent an inviting low cross into the box, but the ball took a deflection on its way through and fell just behind Ciaran Diver. The Burgh number 9 adjusted his feet and did well to still get a shot in and win a corner. The resulting corner saw Cammy Eadie head over the bar.

A minute later, the hosts had their first chance of the match but the ball was sent flying out of the ground.

After the early flurry of end-to-end football, the newly-promoted Buffs started to get a grip on the game and would enjoy a spell on top.

They had a chance in the 11th minute when a long throw into the box was headed just wide.

Over the next five minutes, Burgh keeper Luke Scullion was kept busy as he had to make a string of saves

The first saw a fierce strike from about 20 yards fired across the goal but Scullion got down well to tip it out for a corner. The hosts were causing us trouble with their long throws and as The Burgh defence failed to clear the ball from another long throw, the ball eventually fell to an attacker who struck it low and hard, forcing Scullion to make another save.

On the 15 minute mark Scullion was, again, in action as a good strike from the left, travelling across goal, needed to be dealt with, and Scullion did just that.

The 21st minute will be one to forget for the Buffs' number 14, as his foul on Del Esplin around half way not only earned him yellow card, but also resulted in The Burgh taking the lead. The free kick was played short by Stuart Faulds to Lewis King, who rolled it back to Faulds. Faulds launched it forward to Diver on the edge of the box, who took one touch to control it before laying it off to Blair Rossiter, who struck it first-time from 20 yards with an early contender for goal of the season, as his rocket flew into the top corner, giving former Burgh keepr Glen Cameron no chance.

The lead should've lasted for only six minutes. a shot from 30 yards saw the Burgh keeper parry it in front of him. A Kilwinning attacker was first to the rebound and just had to tap it into the empty net but somehow he completely missed the ball, allowing King and Gilday time to get back and force the ball out for a corner.

Five minutes before the break, the visitors had a couple of chances to double their lead. First, Diver was first to a long ball over the top. He beat his defender but his strike was saved by Cameron. Faulds was first to the rebound, and cut it back to Rossiter, about 25 yards from goal. Unfortunately, his strike didn't have the same ferocity as his earlier strike, and Cameron made a comfortable save.

In the 43rd minute, the home side had another chance with a free kick out wide. It was met by a home player, but his header went just over the bar.

Half Time: 0-1

Burgh almost went 2-0 up just 11 seconds after the restart, when Diver outmuscled his marker to get his shot away. However, Cameron read the situation and was off his line quickly to narrow the angle for Diver, and the shot was brilliantly saved by the keeper.

A minute later, Cameron was called into action, again by Diver. Esplin's lovely floating ball over the top fell nicely for the Burgh striker, who let it bounce before unleashing a powerful half-volley, forcing Cameron into making his best save of the match, tipping it over for a corner.

The game settled down after those early chances, as Burgh started to take control of the match and dictating the tempo of the game. And with 21 minutes to play, Burgh killed the game off. Aaron Mason eased past his man on the edge of the box, drilled a low cross into the goalmouth area and Diver knocked it into the net for 2-0.

On 75 minutes, Rossiter floated a free kick into the box, but Eadie's header was saved by Cameron.

With six minutes remaining Scullion, who'd had a relatively quiet second half, remained alert as he made a terrific save with his foot to deny the home side a way back into the game.

Eadie had a chance to make it 3-0 in the dying seconds. A low corner found him unmarked, but the centre-back saw his first-time strike denied by the keeper.

Full Time: 0-2

Goals: Rossiter 21, Diver 69

Starting XI: Scullion, Grant, Gilday, Eadie, King, Esplin (C), Rossiter (McDonald 86), Faulds, Diver (Gilmartin 86), McShane (Smith 86), Mason (MacKenzie 76)

Man Of The Match: Luke Scullion

Thank you to all who made their way to Kilwinning to cheer on The Burgh. Our next match is at Keanie Park on Wednesday evening, where we'll take on Cumnock Juniors. Kick off is at 19:30. Then we have four consecutive away games, starting with Drumchapel next Saturday. Kick off is at 14:00 at Donald Dewar Centre. We are running a supporters bus for this. To book your seat, please contact Vic on 07826 850856.

A selection of images below, courtesy of Mitch, Iain and Graham.

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