Burgh make winning start with victory over Troon

Johnstone Burgh started their Lowland League West campaign with a fine 2-0 win over Troon at Keanie Park.

Burgh manager Stevie Farrell made just two changes from the starting XI that played in the 6-2 pre-season friendly win over Darvel at Recreation Park last Monday evening. Out went Broque Watson and Kyle Lafferty, while Malky McDonald and Thomas Orr came into the side.

It was a very low-key start to the first half, with the opening 26 minutes passing without either side creating a clear chance. That finally changed in the 27th minute when Ian McShane passed the ball to Aaron Mason from a free-kick, but his right-foot shot from 30 yards was saved by Troon goalkeeper Martin McDonald.

Johnstone Burgh took the lead in the 30th minute as Ian McShane’s inswinging corner from the left found Mark Durnan, and the former Dumbarton defender made no mistake as he volleyed the ball high into the centre of the net with the outside of his right foot from four yards.

Troon made a quiet start to the game but created their first chance in the 34th minute when Max Guthrie showed good skill just outside the box before playing a clever pass to Ben Hughes, whose left-foot shot from 14 yards was brilliantly blocked and diverted wide of the right-hand post by Mark Durnan.

The Burgh had the final chance of the half in the 45th minute when Ian McShane’s right-foot effort from a direct free-kick 30 yards from goal was deflected wide of the right-hand post.

Johnstone Burgh went into the interval with a 1-0 lead.

In the 56th minute, the home side had two good chances to double their lead. Firstly, Ian McShane’s cross from the left found Lewis King, but his powerful header from six yards was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Martin McDonald. Secondly, Troon failed to clear Aaron Mason’s cross from the left properly and the ball fell to Mark Barrowman, but his right-foot shot from 14 yards went just wide of the left-hand post.

The Burgh were beginning to dominate the match and created another chance in the 58th minute. Aaron Mason had a sight of goal, but his low right-foot shot from 30 yards was saved by McDonald. Three minutes later, the home side threatened again when Mark Durnan’s deflected cross from the right found Malky McDonald at the back post, but his header from six yards was again saved by McDonald.

Johnstone Burgh continued to press for a second goal and it eventually came in the 70th minute. Ian McShane’s superb first-time pass from inside his own half released Broque Watson, who drove towards the Troon goal before finding Aaron Mason on the left. The former Auchinleck Talbot man cut inside and unleashed a powerful right-foot shot from 16 yards that flew high into the net beyond McDonald.

In the 74th minute, Troon came close to pulling a goal back against the run of play. Callan Veitch’s inswinging corner from the left found captain Calum Gow, but his glancing header from six yards struck the inside of the right-hand post before bouncing into the grateful arms of Johnstone Burgh goalkeeper Brett Long.

Troon created their final chance in the 89th minute when Callan Veitch’s corner from the left was deflected into the path of substitute Sam Jamieson, but with the goal at his mercy, his header from five yards went just over the crossbar.

The Keanie Park side had the final opportunity of the match in the 90th minute as Max Kerr picked up the ball inside the Troon half before driving forward and hitting a powerful left-foot shot from 30 yards which was well saved by McDonald.

The referee blew for full-time after three minutes of added time to confirm the perfect start to the Lowland League West season for Johnstone Burgh.

Following tonight’s result, Johnstone Burgh sit in joint eighth place in the Lowland League West table on three points after one match.

Troon return home on Saturday 1st August when they welcome Arthurlie to Portland Park in their third Lowland League West fixture. Kick-off is at 3pm.

Johnstone Burgh: Long; King, Gilday (Forrester 79), Barrowman, Durnan (C), Faulds (Esplin 85), K. Kerr (M. Kerr 79), McDonald (Watson 68), Orr (Lafferty 68), McShane, Mason.

Unused substitutes: Hargreaves (GK), Murphy.

Troon: Martin McDonald; Jamie Mills, Stephen Bronsky, Calum Gow (C), Callan Veitch, Max Guthrie (Reece Craig 86), Dean Fulton, Carter Frew, Dario Viviani (Evan Ferguson 86), Ben Hughes (Sam Jamieson 75), Nathan Baird.

Unused substitutes: Gareth Armstrong, Ryan Hamilton, Lewis Allan, Rohan Harkins (GK).

Next up for Johnstone Burgh is a trip to the Albert Bartlett Stadium in Airdrie to face Celtic B in the club’s first-ever Lowland League West away fixture on Saturday 1st August. Kick-off is at 3pm.