Johnstone Burgh produced a five-star performance as they stormed to a 5-0 win over New Elgin JFC in the second round of the Scottish Communities Cup at a sunny and pleasant Nicol-Togneri Park in Elgin.
Burgh manager Stevie Farrell made three changes from the starting XI that played in the 2-1 win over Troon at Portland Park on Wednesday evening, 16th September. Out went Brett Long, Lewis King and Broque Watson, with Luke Scullion, Scott Williamson and Ian McShane coming in.
The away side had the first chance of the match in the 7th minute when Ian McShane’s pass found Del Esplin in the box, but his first-time right-foot shot from 12 yards was deflected wide of the left-hand post.
The next chance for Burgh came in the 25th minute as Ian McShane lined up a direct free kick 22 yards from goal, but his right-foot strike was deflected over the crossbar.
The Keanie Park side came close to taking the lead just a minute later when Mark Durnan’s cross found Mark Barrowman, but his glancing header from six yards flashed just wide of the left-hand post.
The 2025 winners of the then-named Scottish Junior Cup were well on top and came close to opening the scoring in the 32nd minute. The ball broke to club captain Del Esplin around 25 yards from goal, but his powerful first-time right-foot shot was well saved by New Elgin goalkeeper Murray Newlands.
Johnstone Burgh finally took the lead in the 36th minute as Aaron Mason went on a run, driving towards goal before unleashing an unstoppable right-foot shot into the right-hand corner of the net from 25 yards.
Burgh then doubled their lead in the 42nd minute when the in-form Max Kerr lined up a direct free kick 20 yards from goal before curling a superb left-foot shot into the right-hand corner of the net.
The away side made it three with the last attack of the first half in the 45th minute. The ball broke to Max Kerr outside the box and he lashed a left-foot shot, via a deflection, into the bottom right-hand corner of the net for his second goal of the match.
Half-time: New Elgin JFC 0-3 Johnstone Burgh
The Keanie Park side had the first chance of the second half in the 47th minute with another direct free kick from Max Kerr, who had a chance to grab his hat-trick, but his left-foot shot from 25 yards went well over the crossbar.
Burgh were in control and came close to making it four in the 65th minute when Thomas Orr found himself with plenty of space outside the box, but his low, curling right-foot shot from 20 yards hit the right-hand post.
New Elgin had struggled to create anything in the final third of the park but had a chance in the 78th minute when Luke Scullion’s clearance went straight to Aiden MacKay 20 yards from goal. His powerful left-foot shot went just over the crossbar.
The Johnstone side continued to look for their fourth goal of the afternoon and came close in the 82nd minute when Scott Williamson’s dangerous cross from the right found Gabriel Nosa, but his glancing header from six yards went wide of the left-hand post.
Johnstone Burgh then scored their fourth goal in the 89th minute as Del Esplin found himself with space around 30 yards from goal. He unleashed a powerful right-foot shot into the top left-hand corner of the net.
Burgh rounded off their afternoon by scoring their fifth and final goal in the 90th minute with the final attack of the match. Mark Barrowman launched the ball up the park and Thomas Orr, who was quickest to react, lobbed the ball over Murray Newlands with his left foot from 16 yards into the middle of the net.
The full-time whistle was blown and Burgh secured their place in the third-round draw.
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