Burgh Suffer Back To Back Defeats

Johnstone Burgh suffered their second defeat in as many games, with Blair Rossiter's 90th minute penalty only serving as a consolation.

There were three changes to the Starting XI from the side that lost 2-0 at Kilbirnie two weeks ago. Conner McGlinchey was handed a debut, Darren Christie was given his first start for The Burgh, and Graham Dorrans made his first start since September. Gary McCann, Kieran Brophy and Ross McKenzie dropped to the bench.

The afternoon started promisingly for the visitors, as Burgh piled on early pressure, forcing several corners, although they struggled to test Ryan Scully in the Drumchapel goal. He was forced into his first save of the match in the seventh minute with a Jason Naismith header aimed towards the top corner.

In the 11th minute, Drum had their first chance when David Templeton's free kick was put into the box and caused a goalmouth scramble. Burgh threw plenty of bodies in front of the ball and eventually managed to get it clear.

The first half continued much the same way, with Burgh seeing plenty of the ball and putting pressure on the home side, but unable to really test Scully, with Drumchapel having the occasional spell of pressure.

On 27 minutes, Burgh had the best chance of the game so far when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. While the home side protested the decision, Burgh cleverly took the free kick quickly, with Dorrans playing Simeon through on goal. Scully was rooted to his spot and only able to watch on as Simeon's shot trickled just wide.

Ten minutes later, a David Templeton corner was met by the head of David Hopkirk and, against the run of play, the hosts had the lead.

Burgh looked to respond quickly, and in the 40th minute Conner McGlinchey was agonisingly close to a debut goal as his effort thundered back off the post.

Half time: 1-0

The second half got off to the worst start possible, as Drumchapel doubled their lead within 16 seconds of the restart. David Hopkirk found himself one on one with Broun, and bagged his second of the game.

Burgh went in search of a way back into the game and it almost came just two minutes later when Wright squared it to Dorrans on the edge of the box and laid it off to Stuart McCann who fired it low and hard, but Scully made the save,

Although the away side did most of the pressing, they failed to carve many real chances. Then in the 66th minute, Stuart McCann had another good chance as he met a cross from the right with his head but the ball went inches wide.

This didn't stop Drumchapel trying to kill off the game though, and they almost did so in the 71st minute when The Drum's number 11 clipped the top of the bar.

With 13 minutes to play, Burgh made their first substitutions of the match, with Ross McKenzie, Kieran Brophy and Ally Small coming on in place of Malky McDonald, Dale Simeon and Stuart McCann.

The changes saw Burgh up the tempo and looked likely to get the next goal, sending ball after ball into the Drumchapel box.

However, it wasn't to be. In the 80th minute, the hosts were awarded a penalty after Craig Menzies handled in his own box. Drumchapel were furious that Menzies was shown only a yellow card, as they felt it should've been a sending off. Having already scored twice, it was only going to be Hopkirk to take it as he looked for his hat-trick. Broun went the right way and managed to get a hand to it, but couldn't keep out the powerfully struck spot kick.

Burgh threw everything at Drumchapel as they fought to get a goal back. Ross McKenzie laid it off to substitute Gary McCann, whose strike was blocked by a home defender.

With 90 seconds left on the clock Ally Small pounced on a heavy touch to steal the ball in midfield and broke through the Drum defence and feinted as if he was going to shoot. Ruraidh McIntyre fell for Small's feint and, caught in two minds between blocking the shot and making the tackle, his outstretched leg brought down Small in the box and referee Josh Hay had no hesitation pointing to the spot. Blair Rossiter stepped up, and Scully went the right way and made the save. Rossiter ran onto the rebound, but before he could put it into the net, Hay blew for the penalty to be retaken as Scully had come off his line before Rossiter struck the ball. Rossiter re-took the penalty and went the opposite way, with Scully again guessing correctly, only this time the ball squirmed under his body and trickled into the net.

Full time: 3-1

Goal: Rossiter

Starting XI: Broun, McGlinchey, Wright, Menzies, Naismith (C), Dorrans, Christie, McDonald, S McCann, Simeon, Rossiter.

Man of the Match: Craig Menzies

After today's result we remain 9th in the league. As always, thank you to all of you who travelled across the Clyde to cheer us on today. Next week we return home, where we welcome Rutherglen Glencairn to Keanie Park. Admission is £8 for adults, £4 for concessions, and free for U16's.

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