Burgh Suffer First Defeat of the Season

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A brace from Kieran Brophy wasn't enough to save Burgh from their first defeat of the season.

The afternoon started with both sets of teams and fans taking part in a minute's applause to remember the late former Johnstone Burgh president John "Rocky" Rock who sadly passed away earlier this week.

The applause had barely finished when Shotts raced into the lead. Ben Richford took advantage of Burgh's inability to clear their lines and fired in to send the visitors 0-1 up with little over 60 seconds on the clock.

Burgh went in search of an equaliser and it came 5 minutes later when Simeon's cross found Brophy who controlled it with his chest and rifled a volley into the bottom corner beyond the Shotts keeper Sandy Thomson.

Two minutes later, Shotts were awarded a penalty, and Ally Martin stepped up to take it. Although Burgh keeper Kenzie Smyth went the right way, the penalty was buried deep enough into the bottom corner to send Shotts back into the lead.

Shotts could smell blood and were eager for a third. It almost happened when Richford struck from just outside the area and forced Smyth into a low save. It was Richford, again, who put the ball into the net after an aerial ball was played through, but the referee's whistle had already blown for offside. On 17 minutes, Josh Gracie crossed the ball to the near post and, under pressure from Harry Kent, Kenzie Smyth could only punch the ball clear as far as Paul McGeough who lobbed the ball back over Smyth from just inside the box and found the net for 3-1.

The goal served as a wake up call the home side, who started piling on the pressure as they searched for a way back into the game. Although Burgh were moving the ball about well, chances seemed to elude them. As Burgh dominated possession, Shotts looked comfortable in defence and made it difficult for the home side to break them down. Despite this, you could sense a goal coming and Burgh did manage to find a way back into the game on the half hour mark, as right back Max Brown, cut inside on his left foot; his cross was glanced on by Ross McKenzie and found Brophy who, in similar fashion to his first goal, chested the ball down and hit his volley into the net from about 9 yards out.

Burgh were well in the driving seat at this point and continued to dominate the ball but struggled to create chances.

Shotts then broke away and with Harry Kent bearing down on goal, Bryan Wharton had to time his sliding tackle to perfection, and he did just that to prevent Kent getting a shot away. Moments later, Shotts broke away again and Kieran Campbell was in on goal, and this time it was Malky McDonald who timed his sliding tackle to perfection.

With half time approaching, Burgh came so close to an equaliser when Ross McKenzie's cut back found Gary McCann and his effort, which looked destined for the back of the net, was superbly tipped over by Thomson.

Half time: 2-3

Like the first half, Shotts started quickly and Smyth made a tremendous save with his foot to keep the score at 2-3.

As the half progressed, the game became more open with both teams creating chances. Burgh's Ross McKenzie saw his 18 yard effort blocked by Chris Meikle, who had a superb game for the visitors. The loose ball found its way to Brophy, who played it wide to Dale Simeon. He hit his shot first time, aiming to bend it into the far top corner but unfortunately got too much underneath it and the ball flew over the bar.

Gary McCann crossed the ball in from the left, Simeon played it back across the goal and Dorrans smashed his effort on target, but was saved by the legs of Thomson.

With the clock running down, Burgh's desperation for an equaliser left gaps at the back and Shotts were keen to expose this, as this would almost certainly guarantee the away team all three points but, like Burgh in the first half, struggled to create much with their spells of possession.

With 25 minutes left to play Burgh were awarded a free kick about 25 yards out. Graham Dorrans stood over it, and went for goal but his effort didn't trouble Thomson as it sailed over the bar.

On 74 minutes Sandy Thomson had a heart-in-mouth moment as he scuffed his clearance, but unfortunately Burgh failed to make him pay and ended up putting the ball out of play for a Shotts throw.

As time was running out, Burgh became more desperate, and became sloppy at the back, conceding a few free kicks but Shotts failed to make anything of them.

In injury time, Burgh came close again when Ross McKenzie pounced on a loose ball pinballing around in the box but the keeper was equal to it and parried it down. Ally Martin cleared it wide but Dorrans was there to meet it. He played the ball to Simeon who crossed it into the box, but his cross was cleared away. The ball found its way out to the left again to Dorrans, and his cross found McDonald who headed wide. There was still time left for Burgh to attack again, as Jojo Gillespie charged into the box but he overran it and the ball went out for a goal kick, Burgh had one final chance as Gillespie came down the left hand side, put a low cross into the box for Simeon. His shot beat Thomson, but Meikle was on the line to prevent the goal.

It was never going to be an easy game, but Burgh will feel they deserved more from this with the chances they created, Ultimately though, we paid the price for key moments at both ends of the pitch, Although a disappointing result, we'll go to Petershill on Wednesday night with positives to take from this.

Full time: 2-3

Goals: Brophy x2

Man of the Match: Kieran Brophy

Starting XI: Smyth, Brown, Wallace, McDonald, Wharton, Esplin (C), Brophy, Dorrans, Simeon, McKenzie, G McCann

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