Honours Even At Keanie Park

Substitute Kieran Brophy netted in the second half to claim a point for The Burgh.

Burgh made three changes from last week's defeat to Drumchapel, as Cammy Crooks, Ross McKenzie and Ally Small came into the team, replacing Benji Wright, Graham Dorrans and Stuart McCann respectively.

Burgh had the ball in the net after eight minutes, when Ally Small squared it to Dale Simeon, who played through Blair Rossiter. The Burgh winger cut inside Sean McGuire and curled it tidily into the bottom corner, but referee Chris Hughes had already blown for offside and the goal did not stand.

In the 17th minute, the ball was in the net again and this time it did stand. Unfortunately, for The Burgh, it went the way of the visitors. Allan Woodhouse ran at Craig Menzies and beat the Burgh defender, and found himself through on goal and reversed it back across the goal into the bottom corner.

On 25 minutes, Rutherglen had a chance to double their advantage with a free kick almost 30 yards out. They worked it short before Martin McBride went for goal but curled it wide of the far post.

Whilst Burgh pressed hard, they struggled to turn the pressure into chances and it wasn't until the first minute of added time that Burgh forced Chris White to make a save. Darren Christie ran onto Ross McKenzie's throughball and fired a rocket towards goal. but White pulled off a superb fingertip save to deflect it over the bar for a Burgh corner.

Half time: 0-1

Having already made an enforced change in the first half (Gary McCann for Cammy Crooks), Burgh made their second substitution of the game at half time with Kieran Brophy coming on for Ross McKenzie.

Burgh upped their intensity in the second half, and didn't have to wait long for their first chance of the half. Four minutes in, Burgh were awarded a free kick out wide. Christie swung it into the box, where Rossiter met it with a glancing header towards goal but, with his back to goal, was unable to get much power on the header and White made a comfortable save.

In the 54th minute of the match, Christie sent an outswinging corner into the box, and White did well to come out and claim the ball just ahead of Burgh captain Jason Naismith who would've had a free header at an empty net.

Burgh were piling on the pressure at this point and it felt like only a matter of time until the scores would be level. And three minutes later it so nearly came, but Ally Small's effort about 9 yards out went just inches over the bar.

Then, in the 65th minute, Burgh were finally level. A long throughball over the top from Rossiter found Brophy, who took a touch to control the ball and put it onto his right foot, then from the angle of the six-yard box put it into the visitors' net.

On 70 minutes, Rutherglen could've re-taken the lead through Ryan McManus, but Harry Broun made the save and tipped it over the ball.

With both teams coming into the game on a losing streak, the final 20 minutes of the match became scrappy, as both teams were desperate not to lose the match and, as a result, chances were very limited.

The best chance came in the third minute of added time, as Burgh were awarded a free kick 30 yards out. Blair Rossiter took it but struck it over the bar.  

Full time: 1-1

Goal: Brophy

Starting XI: Broun, McGlinchey, Crooks, Menzies, Naismith (C), McDonald, Christie, McKenzie, Small, Simeon, Rossiter.

Man of the Match: Conner McGlinchey

The away side will be the happier of the two teams to take a point from this, as Burgh will be feeling that we should've taken all three points. The result means our league position is unchanged and we remain 9th in the league. Thank you to all those who came to Keanie Park today to support The Burgh.

Next week we make the trip over to Glasgow's East End to take on St Roch's at James McGrory Park. Kick off is at 2pm. We will be running a supporter's bus for this match. Keep an eye on our social media channels this week for details.