Burgh Win On Penalties To Progress To Semi Finals

‍

Johnstone Burgh defeated WOSFL Premier Division side St Cadocs 4-1 on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw, with goals from Kieran Brophy, Ross McKenzie and Jason Naismith.

Jamie McKim made one change from the side that lost to Threave last weekend; new signing Ben Wright was handed his debut, with Stuart Fyfe dropping to the bench,

Neil McLaughlin had the first chance of the game, but his tamely-hit effort was a comfortable save for Harry Broun in the Burgh goal.

Burgh were playing well and putting pressure on the visitors, but struggled to create any chances. Then a counter attack saw Bob McHugh force Broun into a good save at his near post, winning The Cads a corner. It was taken short, then crossed into the box, and Richie McKillen escaped his marker to head it powerfully into the net and give the away side the lead in the sixth minute.  

Burgh's first chance came two minutes later, as Malky McDonald beautifully feinted to cut inside, which fooled the Cads captain, then McDonald poked it round the outside and put in a low cross for Dale Simeon at the far post but the Burgh attacker was just a yard behind the ball, and unable to tap into the empty net.

Burgh continued to put pressure on the visitors as they searched desperately for an equaliser. On 14 minutes, The Burgh were awarded a free kick just outside the D, after Stuart McCann was tripped by the Cads goalscorer Richie McKillen. Simeon struck the free kick into the wall, winning a corner.

A minute later, The Burgh found themselves 2-0 down. A long ball over the top from Gary Miller found Neil McLaughlin, who produced an outstanding finish as he volleyed it in with the outside of his boot,

However, this Burgh side is resilient and refused to be beaten. And rather than let their heads drop, they fought back and grabbed a goal just two minutes later. The McCann brothers linked up, with Stuart playing it wide to Gary, who crossed it into the box, where Brophy outleapt his marker and headed into the net.

In the 26th minute, Brophy looked to bag his second of the game. From just inside the box, he struck a low effort to the near post but Max Currie got down and pushed the ball out for a corner. The away side failed to clear the danger, and Burgh worked the ball to McDonald, whose low strike beat Currie, but the St Cadocs captain BJ Coll was there to prevent the goal.

Burgh continued to dominate, and Harry Broun had to remain switched as a St Cadocs counter attack saw the ball worked to Daniel McManus, but Broun produced an excellent save to keep the St Cadocs advantage at one. The ball was turned round the post for a corner and, although Burgh initially struggled to clear the danger, the visitors failed to make anything of it.  

In the 34th minute, Burgh had a penalty shout when Gary McCann appeared to be bundled over in the box after latching onto Ross McKenzie's throughball. The referee, Thomas Denholm, wasn't interested and waved play on.

Five minutes before half time, Burgh's dominance paid off and they got the equaliser. After a patient build-up, Burgh worked the ball to Stuart McCann who looked like he was going to shoot, but he unselfishly passed to McKenzie. McKenzie took a touch to control it then side footed it into the bottom corner.

Half Time: 2-2

Burgh looked to carry on where they off, as McKenzie's goalbound strike was deflected off the heel of Alan Lithgow and out for a corner in the third minute of the second half.

The home side continued to press but couldn't create any chances. Then at around 55 minutes, the momentum shifted and it was St Cadocs doing all the pressing, pinning Burgh deep inside their own half.

With the pressure being piled on The Burgh, it seemed as though was only a matter of time until the next goal.

And sure enough, the next goal did come in the 65th minute. However, the goal did not go to the team that was on top. Burgh eventually managed to clear the ball and get out their own half. The ball was played to Brophy and his cross from the right was blocked by Dom Slattery and behind for a corner. Simeon's outswinging corner was flicked on by McDonald and met by Stuart McCann's bicycle kick. His effort was going wide but his brother Gary intercepted it and went for goal. Coll slid in to block McCann's strike. Both McCann and Cads keeper Max Currie tried to prevent the ball going out for another corner, and it was McCann who won the ball and his ball back across the goal found Burgh's stand-in captain Jason Naismith and his thunderous strike rifled into the net to complete the comeback and give the home side the lead.

The game was now very open as both teams went in search of the next goal, knowing how vital the game's sixth goal would be.

On 69 minutes, Ross McKenzie, a man who could not be stopped, went on a powerful run and laid it off to Gary McCann, whose cross eluded everyone and Cammy Crooks ran onto it but his mis-hit cross went behind for a goal kick.

A minute later, Gary McCann pounced on a loose ball and found himself through on goal. His strike, from 18 yards, was stopped by Currie.

McKenzie then had a chance to grab his second of the game after Crooks squared it to him, and he went for goal but his shot was blocked by Lithgow.

As the game neared its end, St Cadocs grew more desperate and although they were pushing hard for an equaliser, they struggled to create any real chances. That was, until the 84th minute when they worked the ball to McLaughlin, who took a touch to control then shot towards goal. Menzies threw himself in front of that shot with the ball appearing to hit his lower torso, but Thomas Denholm deemed the ball hit his arm and gave the penalty. Gary Muir stepped up and converted for the equaliser.

Burgh weren't content to settle for a shoot-out and went in search of a winner. As Malky McDonald was breaking down the right wing in the third minute of added time, he was wiped out by Gary Miller in a shocking foul from behind, with no intention to play the ball and was lucky to only receive a yellow card.

The scenes in the aftermath of that challenge meant that a significant amount of added time was played, and in the seventh minute of added time, Graham Dorrans saw his strike, which looked destined for the bottom corner, blocked by Slattery.

Full Time: 3-3 (Burgh win 4-1 on penalties)

After a 3-3 draw, the match went to penalties.

As he did in the previous round, Graham Dorrans stepped up to take the first penalty, only this time he found the net as he fired straight down the middle. The St Cadocs penalty was blasted over the bar. 1-0
Gary McCann was second for The Burgh. Although the keeper went the right way, the penalty was buried into the bottom corner. The Cads next penalty found the net, sending Broun the wrong way. 2-1
Next up was Ally Small, who converted his spot kick as the keeper went the wrong way. A superb save from Broun meant that Burgh were on the verge of qualifying. 3-1
Hamish McKinlay stepped up, knowing that if he found the net, Burgh are in the semi finals. And that's exactly what he did. The keeper guessed the right way but McKinlay's penalty was too good. 4-1

Penalties: 4-1

Starting XI: Broun, Crooks, Wright, Menzies, Naismith (C), McDonald, Brophy, McKenzie, S McCann, Simeon, G McCann

Goals: Brophy, McKenzie, Naismith

Man of the Match: Ross McKenzie

It was a real roller-coaster of an afternoon at Keanie Park and McKinlay's penalty sparked jubilant scenes from players, coaches and fans. The performance was exceptional from every single player in a Burgh shirt. It was an exciting afternoon that will live long in the memory of Burgh fans who were in attendance. Thank you to all fans who came out to support us and we look forward to seeing you in the semi finals.

In other results yesterday, Darvel beat Lochee United 3-0, Arthurlie beat Bellshill Athletic 2-1 and Auchinleck Talbot beat Hurlford United 2-0. We await the semi final draw to see who we will face.

Next week, we travel to Valefield Park to take on Kilbirnie Ladeside. Kick off is at 14:00.