It was definitely a game of two halves, as Johnstone Burgh and Albion Rovers played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in this afternoon's Scottish Lowland League West match at Keanie Park, Johnstone.
Burgh manager Stevie Farrell made five changes to the starting XI that played in the 1-1 draw with Celtic B in Airdrie last Saturday. Out went Scott Williamson, Mark Barrownan, Aaron Mason(suspended), Kris Kerr and Kyle Lafferty. In came Stuart Faulds, Scott Forrester, Malky McDonald, Max Kerr and Thomas Orr. New loan signing Gabriel Nosa was on the bench.
The first chance of the match fell to Johnstone Burgh in the 6th minute. Calvin McGrory's outswinging corner kick from the right found Malky McDonald, but his header from 7 yards went wide of the left hand post.
The home side had a good shout for a penalty in the 10th minute as Malky McDonald appeared to have been brought down in the box by Chris Neeson, but the referee waved play on. A matter of seconds later however, the Burgh took the lead. Max Kerr did well to control the ball just outside the box, before firing a low, crisp, left foot shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net from 18 yards.
Johnstone Burgh had made an excellent start to the match and went on to score their second goal of the afternoon in the 16th minute. Max Kerr showed brilliant skill by flicking the ball over Tony Garth, before firing a superb first time left foot shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net from 19 yards.
The Keanie Park side then came close to adding goal number three in the 19th minute. Following a corner kick from Calvin McGrory, the ball broke to Scott Forrester at the back post, but his left foot shot from 4 yards was cleared off the line.
The Burgh were well on top and continued to search for goal number three. On the half hour mark, Calvin McGrory's free kick from the right hand side found the un-marked Thomas Orr, but his free header from 7 yards went wide of the left hand post.
Johnstone Burgh were awarded a penalty in the 34th minute after Thomas Orr, who broke into the left hand side of the box, was pulled back by Innes Clark as he was about to shoot. Orr himself took the penalty kick but his right foot shot was well saved by Albion Rovers goalkeeper Grant Tamosevicius in the 35th minute. Less than a minute later Max Kerr had a chance for his hattrick, but his left foot shot from 18 yards was saved by Tamosevicius.
Albion Rovers first serious attempt on goal came in the 42nd minute. Nathan Brown created himself an opening but his right foot shot from 35 yards went wide of the left hand post.
There was no more notable action in the first half and Johnstone Burgh led 2-0 at half time.
Half time: 2-0
Albion Rovers came flying out the traps at the start of the second half and came close to pulling a goal back in the 46th minute. Daniel Hunter had a sight of goal from 25 yards but his powerful right foot shot was deflected wide of the right hand post.
Johnstone Burgh had a great chance to go 3-0 up in the 52nd minute when a slack pass by Rock Moses was intercepted by Ian McShane, and with just Tamosevicius to beat, the former East Kilbride man tried a left foot chip from 20 yards but he didnt connect properly and the ball went wide of the right hand post.
Albion Rovers were very much still in the game at this point and came close to scoring in the 57th minute when Nathan Brown flashed the ball across the face of goal to find Conor McLaughlin, but his first time left foot shot from 6 yards was brilliantly saved by Johnstone Burgh goalkeeper Brett Long.
The Coatbridge side pulled a goal back in the 61st minute when Innes Clark put a lovely through ball to find club captain Barry Duncan, and from 12 yards he curled a fantastic left foot shot into the top left hand corner of the net.
The Burgh were looking to restore their two goal lead and had half a chance to do just that in the 70th minute. Gabriel Nosa who was making his debut for the club showed some nice skill in the box to create himself an opening but his right foot shot from 14 yards was well blocked.
Albion Rovers levelled the match in the 83rd minute as Devan McColl picked the ball up on the halfway line, went on a driving run towards goal, before unleashing an unstoppable left foot shot that flew into the top left hand corner of the net from fully 30 yards.
There were no further chances for either side in the closing stages, but Johnstone Burgh's miserable second half was complete when captain Mark Durnan was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a late tackle in the third minute of added time. The referee blew for full time shortly after.
Following today's result, Johnstone Burgh drop to 9th place in the table, on 5 points after 3 matches played.
Full time: 2-2
Johnstone Burgh FC goals: M.Kerr 10+16
Albion Rovers FC goals: Duncan 61, McColl 83
Man Of The Match: Max Kerr
Johnstone Burgh FC: Long, Faulds, Gilday, Forrester, Durnan(C), McGrory, M.Kerr (K.Kerr 67), McDonald (King 88), Orr (Nosa 67), McShane, Watson (Murphy 77).
Unused subs: Scullion(GK), Esplin, Williamson
Albion Rovers FC: Tamosevicius, Neeson, Dolan, Clark (McMillan 74), Duncan(C), McLaughlin, Hunter (Rhappozzoh 90+2), Brown (McColl 74), Ronald (Clark 46), Garth (Eguagie 46), Moses.
Unused subs: Pollock(GK), Lumsden
Referee: Scott Donohoe
Assistant Referee 1: Greg Millar
Assistant Referee 2: Barry Cook
A big thank you to the supporters of both Johnstone Burgh and Albion Rovers for attending today's match.
Next up for Johnstone Burgh is a trip to Newlandsfield Park to face top-of-the-table Pollok in the Scottish Lowland League West on Wednesday 19th August. Kick off is at 7:45pm.
#MonTheBurgh
By John Armour
