Johnstone Burgh held to goalless draw by Glenafton Athletic

04-04-2026 14:00

WoSFL Prem Matchday 26 (04/04)

Keanie Park

Johnstone

Glenafton Athletic

0 - 0

Johnstone Burgh failed to make it five consecutive league wins, as they could only manage a 0-0 draw with a determined Glenafton Athletic side at a cold, wet and miserable Keanie Park in Johnstone.

Burgh manager Murdo MacKinnon made five changes from the starting XI that beat St Cadoc’s 2-1 at Keanie Park on Wednesday evening. Out went Craig Menzies, Lewis King, Stuart Faulds, Aaron Mason and Aidan Gilmartin, and in came Malky McDonald, Matty Grant, club captain Del Esplin, Darren Christie and Kyle Lafferty.

Sam McKee had the first chance for Glenafton Athletic in the 1st minute, but his right foot shot from 18 yards was easily saved by Luke Scullion.

Johnstone Burgh came close to taking the lead in the 13th minute. Blair Rossiter had a sight of goal from 25 yards, but his powerful left foot strike hit the outside of the left-hand post.

In the 22nd minute, the Burgh had an excellent chance to take the lead. Blair Rossiter found Kyle Lafferty down the right-hand side, and Lafferty then put a lovely low ball into the box for Broque Watson, but with the goal at his mercy, his side-foot effort from six yards was brilliantly saved by Ollie Ecrepont.

Johnstone Burgh were controlling the game and again came close to opening the scoring in the 26th minute. Blair Rossiter created an opening on the right-hand side of the box, but his powerful left foot strike from 10 yards, which looked to be heading into the left-hand corner, was superbly saved by Ecrepont.

A minute later it was Matty Grant who had the next chance for the home side. The former Stranraer man went on a solo run down the right-hand side before firing a low left foot shot from 16 yards, which was once again kept out by Ecrepont.

On the half-hour mark, Sam McKee had a half chance for Glenafton, but his right foot shot from 14 yards was well blocked by Scott Forrester.

The weather conditions were starting to worsen, but the chances kept coming for both teams. Kian Gilday fired a brilliant cross into the box from the left-hand side, which found club captain Del Esplin, but his glancing header from 10 yards went just wide of the right-hand post in the 33rd minute.

Glenafton had the final chance of the first half in the 36th minute. Callum Wilson had a sight of goal, but his right foot shot from around 22 yards was saved by Scullion to ensure both teams went in level at the half-time break.

In the 49th minute, “The Glens” had a good chance to take the lead. The ball fell to Brannan McDermott, who fired a right foot shot from 16 yards towards goal, but Scott Forrester did well to head the ball clear.

Just two minutes later, Matty Grant went on a driving run down the right-hand side before creating a good opening, but the impressive Ollie Ecrepont made yet another fine save from Grant’s right foot shot from around 20 yards.

On the hour mark, Burgh’s Darren Christie had a chance to put the home side in front, but his right foot shot from 14 yards went just over the crossbar.

In the 61st minute, the best chance of the match came for the Keanie Park side. Darren Christie’s cross from the right wing found Broque Watson at the back post. He then headed the ball to Blair Rossiter, who saw his header from four yards somehow kept out by the unbeatable Glenafton goalkeeper Ollie Ecrepont.

In the 72nd minute, Sam McGarva from Burgh’s under-20s development team made his debut for the senior side after coming on for Matty Grant.

Broque Watson was next to threaten, but his right foot shot from 20 yards was once again saved by Ecrepont. A minute later, Ian McShane had an opening, but his right foot shot from 18 yards went wide of the right-hand post.

Glenafton had their best chance of the match in the 80th minute. David Craig’s cutback found Brannon McDermott, who saw his side-foot shot from 10 yards cleared off the line by Scott Forrester. The ball then fell to Callum Wilson, who fired a right foot shot just over the crossbar from 25 yards. A huge let-off for the Burgh.

With five minutes of normal time remaining, Aaron Mason had a sight of goal, but his left foot shot from 18 yards was saved by Ecrepont. A minute into added time, it was Mason again who had a chance to score, but his right foot shot from 20 yards was yet again saved by the brilliant Ecrepont.

With literally three seconds left of the four minutes added time, Ian McShane played a killer pass to Jude Cummins, who looked certain to score the winner, but his right foot strike from eight yards was brilliantly blocked by “The Glens” star man Ollie Ecrepont. The ball then fell to Broque Watson, but with the goal at his mercy, he could only volley the ball over the crossbar from six yards, which proved to be the final kick of the match as the referee blew the full-time whistle.

After today’s share of the spoils, Johnstone Burgh remain in 6th place on 37 points after 20 matches played.

After the match interview Burgh manager Murdo MacKinnon said: “I thought it was a game we dominated, to be honest with you, from start to finish. I thought our first-half performance was excellent and we’ve created some really good opportunities.

“I find myself here kind of frustrated with how the game went and not coming away with the three points. I think in the first half we were so dominant. The performance is excellent. It is excellent, really tough conditions.

“I thought our back four and midfield were top class. We looked a threat at the top end of the pitch, but I think there’s some opportunities that we’ve created there that we need to score when we’re on top.

“In the second half, credit to Glenafton, they’ve got a shape about them and they’re defending for their lives and they’re really committed. But again, in the second half, probably not as fluent as we were in the first half. It’s still a threat, still in the ascendancy.

“Probably, if I’m being over-critical, I’d like to have seen a bit more tempo and a bit more urgency in terms of what we’re playing against. But again, we’ve still got the ball into really good areas of the pitch, put some excellent crosses in, and we’ll just know that we’re lacking a bit of ruthlessness at the moment and that’s obviously come back to haunt us today.

“So, really disappointed, but overall, we’ll move on.”

Asked about Wednesday’s trip away to Cumnock Juniors, MacKinnon added: “Aye, listen, it’s another game that we need to go and we need to give a good account of ourselves. Cumnock are doing well in the league at the moment. Flying high, a bit of confidence about them as well.

“So, aye, it’s a game that’s going to be tough. We know it’s going to be a tough game but if we’re going to put on a performance like we did today, and have that ruthless streak, then we’re not going to be far away.”

Next up for Johnstone Burgh is a trip to face Cumnock Juniors in the WoSFL Premier Division at Townhead Park, Cumnock, on Wednesday 8th April. Kick-off is at 7:45pm.

Results for WoSFL Premier Division:

Fixtures for WoSFL Premier Division:

WoSFL Premier Division League table:

Johnstone Burgh’s Kyle Lafferty
Photo Credit: Graham Morgan / Johnstone Burgh