Johnstone Burgh produced a heroic display as they made history by securing their place in the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup Third Round with a 1-0 win over Scottish Highland Football League side Formartine United at Keanie Park, Johnstone.
It is the first time in the club’s history that Johnstone Burgh have reached the third round of the Scottish Cup.
Burgh manager Stevie Farrell made three changes to the starting XI that played in the 2-2 draw against Gretna FC 2008 at Raydale Park two weeks ago. Out went Scott Williamson, Mark Durnan and Aaron Mason, and in came Lewis King, Ian McShane and Sam Jamieson.
Johnstone Burgh had a strong claim for a penalty kick in the 4th minute of the match when Sam Jamieson’s left-footed cross appeared to strike the right hand of Marc Lawrence inside the box, but the referee was having none of it.
The home side were the first to threaten in the 8th minute of the match as Max Kerr created an opening for himself, but his low left-footed shot from 25 yards was saved by United goalkeeper Stuart McKenzie.
Less than a minute later, Max Kerr had another chance to score after Sam Jamieson brilliantly set him up, but his first-time left-footed shot from 14 yards was superbly saved by McKenzie.
The Burgh had come flying out of the traps and had another chance to open the scoring in the 10th minute when Del Esplin had a sight of goal, but his right-footed shot went over the crossbar from 20 yards.
The away side then had their first chance to score in the 17th minute when Connor Scully lined up a direct free kick 22 yards from goal, but his low left-footed shot was saved by Brett Long.
Johnstone Burgh were playing well and once again came close to taking the lead in the 19th minute as Max Kerr created some space for himself 20 yards from goal, but his high, powerful left-footed shot came off the top of the crossbar.
In the 21st minute, Broque Watson almost capitalised on an error in the United defence following Mark Barrowman’s long through ball, but his right-footed shot from 16 yards was superbly blocked by Stuart McKenzie.
Formartine United had made a fairly low-key start to the match, but they created their first chance to score from open play in the 24th minute. Michael Dangana made a good run to give himself a clear sight of goal, but his low right-footed shot from 22 yards was saved by Long.
Michael Dangana was starting to get more involved in the game and he had the next chance to give United the lead in the 29th minute. He once again created a good opening for himself, but his low right-footed shot from 18 yards was saved by Brett Long.
The final chance of the first half came for the home side in the 44th minute as Adam Livingstone’s deflected left-footed cross from the left found Kristopher Kerr in the box, but his looping header from 10 yards was saved by Stuart McKenzie.
Half-time: Johnstone Burgh 0–0 Formartine United
The first eleven minutes of the second half produced little action, but it would be the Burgh who would have the next chance to score in the 56th minute when Broque Watson found himself with an opening, but his right-footed shot from 20 yards went over the crossbar.
The home side picked up some momentum and came close again to taking the lead in the 57th minute when Ian McShane laid the ball off to club captain Del Esplin at the edge of the box, but his first-time, powerful right-footed shot went just wide of the left-hand post.
United had the next chance to open the scoring on the hour mark as Luke Emmett laid the ball off to Michael Dangana, but his right-footed shot from 18 yards was deflected wide of the right-hand post by Mark Barrowman.
The Pitmedden side created their best chance of the match in the 68th minute when Tyler Mykyta’s sublime pass put Michael Dangana through on goal, but Lewis King got back to divert his right-footed shot from 16 yards wide of the right-hand post.
The Keanie Park side had a chance a minute later to take the lead when Ian McShane took a quick free kick to find Max Kerr, but his left-footed shot from 22 yards went just wide of the right-hand post.
The home side had a huge let-off in the 69th minute as Brett Long’s poor clearance from the edge of the box went straight to United captain Glen Murison 40 yards from goal. He then attempted a high right-footed shot which was superbly tipped over the crossbar by Long.
The moment Johnstone Burgh had been waiting for finally came in the 83rd minute of the match when Del Esplin passed the ball out to Max Kerr on the right-hand side. Kerr then showed some nice footwork to find space to put in a brilliant right-footed cross into the box, which found Zak McKay, who made no mistake as he headed the ball into the left-hand corner of the net from five yards to spark joyous scenes amongst the home supporters and the Burgh technical area.
In the 87th minute, Cammy Eadie made his long-awaited return from injury after seven and a half months out, as he replaced Ian McShane.
It was last-chance saloon for Formartine United, as they had one last chance to get the ball into the box from a long throw-in on the left-hand side with 10 seconds of the three minutes’ added time left to play. The throw-in caused havoc in the centre of the Burgh defence as the ball broke to Connor Scully eight yards from goal, but with the last kick of the match, his left-footed shot went just wide of the right-hand post.
The referee blew the full-time whistle approximately two seconds later to confirm Johnstone Burgh’s place in the third round, with a trip to The Rock to face Dumbarton on Saturday 28th November 2026.