Sean Slaven double helps Arthurlie beat Johnstone Burgh 3-2 at Keanie Park

07-03-2026 14:00

WoSFL Prem Matchday 22 (07/03)

Keanie Park

Johnstone

Arthurlie

2 - 3

Player statistic

		45'		Matthew Slaven
		36'		Matthew Slaven
Jamie Eadie		55'
		63'		Mark Taylor
Leon Murphy		90+1'

Johnstone Burgh’s run of poor results continued as they lost 3-2 to Arthurlie at a sunny Keanie Park in Johnstone.

Burgh manager Murdo MacKinnon made two changes from the starting 11 that lost 2-0 to Beith Juniors on Tuesday, 3rd March, with Stuart Faulds replacing club captain Del Esplin and Darren Christie coming in for Aaron Mason.

The home side had the first chance of the match after 8 minutes. Kyle Lafferty played a long ball down the right wing to Broque Watson, who produced a fine pass into the box for Blair Rossiter, but the Burgh top scorer couldn’t get a good connection and his left foot shot from 8 yards went wide of the left-hand post.

Kyle Lafferty had the next chance of the match after 21 minutes. Darren Christie flicked a header from the edge of the box to the former Rangers man, but his left foot strike from 10 yards, on the right-hand side of the box, went high and wide of the left-hand post.

At the half-hour mark, Arthurlie had their first chance of the match through Ewan McPherson. The Arthurlie number 11 found some space on the right-hand side of the box, but his effort from 18 yards went high over the crossbar.

In the 34th minute, Broque Watson had a sight of goal at the edge of the box, but his powerful right foot shot went wide of the right-hand post.

36 minutes into the match, it would be Arthurlie who opened the scoring. Mark Taylor produced some fine footwork around 30 yards from goal. He then fed a lovely through ball straight to Sean Slaven, who fired a fine right foot shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net from 8 yards.

With half-time approaching, Arthurlie scored their second goal of the game in the 45th minute. Once again it was Mark Taylor who provided the assist. The Arthurlie number 9 produced some very skilful and determined play on the right wing before firing in a brilliant cross straight to Sean Slaven, who headed the ball high into the net past Luke Scullion from 6 yards.

“The Lie” led 2-0 at half time.

Half time: 0-2

In the 46th minute, the impressive Mark Taylor picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and again showed some fine skill by creating an opening from the edge of the box, but his low shot was easily saved by Scullion.

As Johnstone Burgh searched for the goal that would get them back into the game, Kyle Lafferty came close to doing just that in the 51st minute. His brilliant looping header from 8 yards at the back post, following a fine cross from the right by Darren Christie, was superbly saved by Arthurlie goalkeeper Sam Gibson.

In the 55th minute, the Burgh got the goal that brought them back into the game. Ian McShane whipped a dangerous ball to the back post from a direct free kick on the right, which found Broque Watson. His effort was saved by Gibson, but the ball fell to the right foot of Cammy Eadie who volleyed the ball high into the net from 6 yards.

Just before the hour mark, Ewan McPherson had a great chance for Arthurlie, but his left foot effort went well off target from 10 yards following a good pass into the box from Mark Taylor.

In the 63rd minute, Arthurlie added their third goal of the afternoon. A good old-fashioned punt up the park caused havoc for Burgh defender Cammy Eadie, who misjudged a bouncing ball which then allowed Mark Taylor to nip in and produce a lovely lobbed finish from the edge of the box into the net over the head of Luke Scullion.

In the 69th minute, the home side had a shout for a penalty after Kyle Lafferty went down just inside the box, but the referee waved play on.

In the 74th minute, Arthurlie almost added goal number four through Aaron Healy, who ran on to a hopeful long ball down the left-hand side, but with the goal at his mercy his right foot shot went just wide of the right-hand post from 8 yards.

As the match entered the first minute of added time, Johnstone Burgh scored their second goal of the match through Leon Murphy, who fired a fine left foot volley into the left-hand corner of the net from the right side of the box, 14 yards from goal.

In the 93rd minute, the home side had a chance to grab a dramatic late equaliser. Aaron Mason passed the ball to Leon Murphy on the left-hand side, who then produced a dangerous left foot cross into the box, but Danny O’Neill couldn’t get enough power on his glancing header from 6 yards, which was saved by Gibson.

Arthurlie saw out the final minute of injury time to secure the three points and a 3-2 win.

After today’s defeat, Johnstone Burgh remain in 9th place on 24 points after 15 matches played.

Full time: 2-3

Next up for the Burgh is Hurlford United at Keanie Park under the lights in the WoSFL Premier Division on Wednesday 11th March. Kick off is at 7:30pm.

West of Scotland Premier Division results, fixtures and table

Here is the latest West of Scotland Premier Division round-up, including the most recent results, upcoming fixtures and the current table.

Results – Saturday 7th March 2026

• Cumnock Juniors 2-1 Shotts Bon Accord
• Glenafton Athletic 2-1 Auchinleck Talbot
• Johnstone Burgh 2-3 Arthurlie
• Renfrew 1-1 Pollok
• Rutherglen Glencairn 1-2 Beith Juniors
• Troon 2-2 Drumchapel United

Fixtures – Tuesday 10th March 2026

• St Cadoc’s v Auchinleck Talbot – 8:00pm

Fixtures – Wednesday 11th March 2026

• Largs Thistle v Pollok – 7:00pm
• Johnstone Burgh v Hurlford United – 7:30pm
• Rutherglen Glencairn v Cumnock Juniors – 7:30pm

Fixtures – Saturday 14th March 2026

• Arthurlie v Renfrew – 2:00pm
• Auchinleck Talbot v Rutherglen Glencairn – 2:00pm
• Beith Juniors v Largs Thistle – 2:00pm
• Glenafton Athletic v Troon – 2:00pm
• Hurlford United v Cumnock Juniors – 2:00pm
• Pollok v Kilwinning Rangers – 2:00pm
• Shotts Bon Accord v Drumchapel United – 2:00pm
• St Cadoc’s v Johnstone Burgh – 2:00pm

Premier Division table

Up-to-date as at 08/03/26