Ten-Man Burgh Defeated By Added Time Winner

Johnstone Burgh were beaten 3-2 at Keanie Park by promotion rivals Kilwinning. Burgh fought twice to come from behind through Stuart McCann and Ross McKenzie, but a 91st minute winner condemned Burgh to a fourth defeat in five matches.

Burgh made two changes from the side that started last week's defeat against St Roch's. Graham Dorrans and Dale Simeon replaced Ross McKenzie and Ally Small.

The home side started with intent and had their first chance in the second minute as Kieran Brophy scuffed his shot wide from just outside the box.

But despite their attacking start, they found themselves behind in the fifth minute. Mark Lamont sent it into the box, where Gavin Millar escaped his marker, leaving him with a free header at the near post.

Kilwinning were looking dangerous from the long throw and, in the 27th minute, they almost doubled their lead. A long throw into the box found Bryan Boylan who, acrobatically, went for the overhead kick which appeared to be looping over Burgh keeper Harry Broun, but Broun was able to claw it away.

Burgh came agonisingly close to an equaliser in the 31st minute. The visitors failed to clear a Darren Christie corner, and Conner McGlinchey stabbed the ball towards goal and was inches away from his first Burgh goal.

In the 44th minute, another Darren Christie corner caused problems for Kilwinning, as Burgh finally found their equaliser. Christie's corner was met by the head of Stuart McCann, who kept his header down and into the net.

Half time: 1-1

As both teams went in search of a much-needed victory, it looked as though Burgh would be the side to take the lead. Although much of the game was now being played in the Buffs' half, the home side created few clear-cut chances. The best chance coming from a Darren Christie corner, but McGlinchey couldn't generate enough power in his header to really test George O'Connor in the Kilwinning goal.

Then, in the 69th minute, the visitors took the lead. A looping cross to the back post found Buffs captain Blair MacIntyre, who headed in.

And things went from bad to worse for The Burgh six minutes later as captain Jason Naismith was given a straight red for an elbow on Gavin Millar.

Jamie McKim brought on defender Stuart Fyfe to play up front as an attacker as The Burgh had to go attacking, with nothing to lose.

As ten-man Burgh went in search of the equaliser, they found it. A long ball forward was knocked down to Ross McKenzie, who tried his luck from 30 yards out and, as the ball skidded off the turf in front of the diving George O'Connor, he found the net with three minutes to play and looked to grab a point for the home side.

Burgh weren't content with a draw and threw everything at Kilwinning in their attempts to snatch the win. Unfortunately, that proved to be Burgh's undoing. Throwing bodies forward left them short at the back as a counter attack in the first minute of added time saw Mark Lamont send a low cross into the box, and substitute Cammy MacNair slid in, unmarked, to win the match and spark jubilant scenes from the visitors.

Full time: 2-3

Goals: S McCann, McKenzie

Starting XI: Broun, McGlinchey, G McCann, Menzies, Naismith (C), McDonald, Brophy, Dorrans, S McCann, Simeon, Christie

Man of the Match: Malky McDonald

A very disappointing result today for The Burgh, especially having equalised so late. Thank you to all fans who turned up in numbers at Keanie Park today. Today's results in the WOSFL First Division mean we remain 10th in the league and promotion is still in our own hands. We now begin a difficult spell where, barring the two weeks leading up to the two semi finals, we find ourselves playing every midweek for the remainder of the season. On Wednesday we travel to Cliftonhill in Coatbridge to face Thorniewood United. Kick off is at 19:45.