Johnstone Burgh secured their place in The 3 Pillars Financial Planning Scottish Communities Cup Quarter Final with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Dundee Violet at Glenesk Park, Dundee.
Burgh manager Murdo MacKinnon made two changes from the team that won 5-0 against Glenafton Athletic 11 days ago, with Scott Forrester coming in for Cammy Eadie and Ian McShane replacing club captain Del Esplin.
The Burgh were fast out of the traps and the first chance of the game came after just 30 seconds for Ciaran Diver, but his left-foot shot from 16 yards flew just over the crossbar.
Johnstone Burgh came close again after 10 minutes through Lewis King, but he headed wide from just six yards following Blair Rossiter’s dangerous free kick.
Ciaran Diver had the next chance for the Burgh after 14 minutes, but his low shot from 14 yards was saved to the goalkeeper’s left following Rossiter’s pass.
The Johnstone side’s pressure finally paid off after 16 minutes as Ian McShane’s powerful right-foot volley from 20 yards found the back of the net via a deflection, after a clever lay-off from the in-form Leon Murphy.
Dundee Violet, who had barely threatened their opposition, had a half chance to level in the 31st minute, but the effort was headed over the bar from six yards following a high ball into the Burgh box.
Ian McShane had the chance to put the Burgh 2-0 up a minute later, but his shot from 20 yards flew wide of the goalkeeper’s right-hand post. Johnstone Burgh continued to push for their second goal and came close again through Blair Rossiter after 39 minutes. The skilful attacker produced some lovely play in the box to create the opening, but his well-struck shot from 10 yards was brilliantly saved by the Dundee Violet goalkeeper.
As half-time approached, Stuart Faulds came close to doubling the lead in the 41st minute, but his back-post header from eight yards went just wide of the right-hand post following a fine cross from Lewis King.
The cup holders led 1-0 going into the break.
Half-time: 0-1
MacKinnon made two changes at half-time, with Allan MacKenzie and Darren Christie replacing Ciaran Diver and Aaron Mason.
As the rain started to fall, Dundee Violet had the first chance of the second half in the 47th minute, but the powerful shot from 20 yards ended up far closer to the corner flag than Luke Scullion’s net.
Darren Christie had the first chance for the Burgh in the second half after 52 minutes, but his right-foot shot from 14 yards went well over the crossbar. Allan MacKenzie was next to come close for the Keanie Park side, but his header at the back post from six yards was blocked by a Dundee Violet defender in the 57th minute. There were cries of handball from the Burgh players, but the referee waved play on.
As the weather conditions worsened and the game became scrappy, the next chance fell to Darren Christie, who saw his shot from the edge of the box well blocked by “The Pansies” defence after 62 minutes.
Johnstone Burgh’s next opportunity fell to Blair Rossiter, but his low 20-yard strike was easily saved by the Dundee Violet goalkeeper with 66 minutes on the clock.
With 14 minutes of normal time remaining, Allan MacKenzie had a great chance to seal the tie, but his right-foot shot from 10 yards flew just over the crossbar.
As the match entered the first minute of injury time, Dundee Violet had their clearest chance of the match, but the well-struck effort from the left-hand side of the box, 10 yards from goal, was well saved by Burgh number one Luke Scullion.
The cup holders saw out the final three minutes of injury time to secure a 1-0 win and a Quarter Final tie at Keanie Park against Dundee North End.
Full-time: 0-1