Burgh Beat Drum To Extend 100% Record

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Goals from Kieran Brophy and Ross McKenzie ensured that Johnstone Burgh's winning start to the season continued.

This mouth-watering clash between the two title favourites got underway in front of an estimated 750 fans. Drum had the first opportunity of the game after a minute when they were awarded a free kick midway inside the Burgh half. The free kick was lobbed into the box, but Burgh midfielder Ross McKenzie headed the ball clear.

At the other end, Camy Crooks swung a low cross in to the near post, but Brophy was unable to get on the end of it, and with Lafferty lurking at the far post, the Drumchapel defender managed to clear his lines. A few minutes later, a long ball forward from Dale Simeon gave Brophy something to chase, but the Drum keeper was quick out of his box to clear the ball just ahead of Brophy. The keeper's clearance only made it as far as the centre circle, where Burgh won it back. Burgh worked it wide to Ryan Wallace, who sent Brophy away down the left wing. He cut inside onto his right foot and sent a curling effort towards the top corner at the far post but, unfortunately, got too much on it and the ball went wide of the post.

As the first half went on, both sides pressed for the opener but failed to create any real chances.

After 22 minutes, Gary McCann was brought down next to the touchline about 6 yards out. Burgh tried the short free kick routine, and it looked as though they'd wasted the opportunity, but Drumchapel failed to clear the danger, and Ross McKenzie pounced onto the loose ball in the box and, very unselfishly, squared the ball to Brophy who gave Burgh the lead from about 5 yards.

Drumchapel looked to respond immediately, and won a corner but nothing came of it.

Lafferty then came close for the Burgh as his glancing header from Wallace's cross went wide. A minute later, Wallace put another cross into the box and, again, Lafferty was on the end of it, this time with a volley which flew inches past the stranded keeper's left post. The next attack of the game saw Lafferty with another chance. This time, Gary McCann's cross from the right wing was headed half clear by the visiting defender and Lafferty's overhead kick sailed just beyond the post.

As half time approached, the Burgh were starting to dominate the game but failed to take advantage of their chances, and went into the break with just a one goal lead.

Half time 1-0

If the first half was open, the second half was much tighter and quite scrappy. Although end to end for large periods, neither side managed to create many real chances in the second half.

It was midway through the second half before either keeper was forced to make a save, as Cammy Crooks waltzed his through the Drumchapel defence and hit a low effort on his left foot but the keeper read it and made the save,

A couple of minutes later, it was Drum's turn to force the Burgh keeper into a save, although it was a relatively comfortable one as the shot was straight at Smyth. They kept pressing to get an equaliser, but Burgh managed the game well and prevented the visitors from creating any clear chances.

Drumchapel would be made to rue this as, with 5 minutes to go, Jojo Gillespie passed to McKenzie, who turned and shot from outside the D, and found the net to make it 2-0.

Substitue Hamish McKinlay looked determind to add his name to the score sheet, but as he made several runs into the box, he was unable to get a shot away.

On the 90 minute mark, Kev Fell scored a peach from more than 25 yards out, an effort which gave Burgh keeper Kenzie Smyth no chance, Burgh saw out injury time to hold on for the victory, but drop to second in the league on goals scored.

Full time 2-1

Goals: Brophy, McKenzie

Man of the Match: Cammy Crooks

Starting XI: Smyth, Crooks, Wallace, McDonald, Menzies, Esplin (C), Brophy, McKenzie, Lafferty, Simeon, G McCann

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