Five-Star Burgh Ease To Victory At Keanie Park

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Five goals from five different scorers gave Burgh a comfortable 5-1 victory at Keanie Park this afternoon. Ryan Wallace, Dale Simeon, Blair Rossiter, Stuart McCann and Ally Small all got their names on the scoresheet against bottom-side Whitletts Victoria.

With Burgh's last game being the 2-0 defeat at Largs three weeks ago, they would've been eager to get going today and get back to winning ways. They didn't have to wait long for the first goal today, as it came after just three and a half minutes. A free kick on the right wing was swung in by new signing Blair Rossiter, and Dale Simeon did excellently to keep the ball in play, heading back across the goal and finding Ryan Wallace, who beat his man in the air and headed in to give the hosts the perfect start.

10 minutes later, Burgh doubled their lead through Simeon. Malky McDonald's long ball out to the right wing was met by Brophy who put a perfectly-weighted ball into the goal-mouth area for Simeon to put past the keeper from 6 yards.

The heavy pitch and blustery conditions seemed not to phase the Burgh who, by now, were well in control of the game.

After 18 minutes, the game was briefly stopped for Dale Simeon to receive treatment when he went down after receiving a knee in the back by Miller. Unfortunately, Simeon, who had been superb up until this point, was unable to continue and was replaced by Hamish McKinlay.

Midway through the first half, Burgh had the ball in the net for the third time when Craig Menzies dinked the ball forward, McCann flicked it on to McDonald, who'd looked to have timed his run to perfection to stay onside and struck it brilliantly with his left foot, across Calum Robertson in the Vics' goal and into the top corner. However, referee Kieran O'Reilly deemed, from his position, that McDonald's run was not timed to perfection and disallowed the goal, ruling McDonald offside.

On 28 minutes, Blair Rossiter bagged a goal on his Burgh debut. McKinlay's ball in from the left wing looped up in the air, and Brophy went for it, being challenged by Robertson and Andy Kerr. None of the three managed to get a firm connection on the ball, and it fell to Rossiter who took his goal nicely to make it 3-0.

Three minutes later, McCann almost made it 4-0, as a loose ball fell his way, following some dithering in the box by the Whitletts defence and unable to clear the ball away. McCann wrapped his foot around it, going for the far post but he got a tad too much on it and the ball bent away from goal and out for a goal kick.

Burgh were hungry for more, and this time it was McDonald who attempted to get Burgh's fourth. Brophy ran, with pace, down the right, no match for the Vics left back, and crossed it into the box. McDonald met it in the air but his head was saved by Robertson.

10 minutes before the break, Boland passed the ball wide to Brophy, and this time, Brophy's cross did result in Burgh's fourth. Another perfectly-weighted cross found McCann, who leapt in the air, and beautifully volleyed into the net with a scissor kick.

A minute later, Brophy again put a cross into the box. McDonald met it but the ball looped straight up into the air. As it came back down, McCann went for goal with a bicycle kick. His shot was on target and Robertson produced a fine save to deny McCann his second in as many minutes.

Soon after, Whitletts were presented with their first real chance of the game. Naismith brought down Jordan Boyd about 25 yards out, resulting in a free kick for the visitors. Louis Kerr went for goal and Burgh debutant Marc Waters made a good save at his near post to keep his clean sheet in tact.

Half time: 4-0

Burgh made two subs at half time, with McCann and Esplin being replaced by Small and McKenzie, and Naismith taking the captain's armband for the second half.

They started brightly, with Brophy playing it out to the left in the first minute of the half, and finding an unmarked McKinlay, who looked to bend his effort to the far, top corner but his shot was just wide.

Seven minutes into the second half, the visitors pulled a goal back. Naismith played the ball back to Waters, and the Burgh keeper's foot seemed to get caught in the ground, leading to Boyd nicking in, dispossessing him and slotting into the empty net.

Burgh restored their four-goal advantage on the hour mark. A Dorrans corner wasn't dealt with by the Vics defence, and McDonald lifted it to the back post where Ally Small caught his volley sweetly and smashed it in for his 11th of the season.

On 63 minutes, McKinlay struck a free kick from almost 30 yards. It deflected off the top of the wall, and Robertson scurried back across the goal to push it out for a Burgh corner.

McKinlay came close to adding his name to the scoresheet half way through the second half, when Small played it out wide. McKinlay then cut inside onto his right foot and bent his shot around the keeper, but the ball went inches wide.

With 15 minutes remaining, Brophy, who'd worked his socks off all game, looked certain to score. Boland's chip forward was flicked on by Small and Brophy ran onto it, one on one with Robertson. Unfortunately, Brophy perhaps took one touch too many before getting his shot away, allowing Kristofer Brown to get back and make the block, sending the ball out for a corner. Dorrans took the corner, Naismith headed it goalward and Brophy rose in front of Robertson to try to divert the ball into the net, but unfortunately headed it just over.

A misplaced pass by Louis Kerr gave the ball to McKinlay, centre of goal on the edge of the box. McKinlay struck it well and beat the keeper, but unfortunately saw his effort bounce back off the post.

In the 84th minute, McKinlay's cross was deflected out for a corner. McKinlay took the corner and found Wallace whose header looked destined for the top corner, but was denied by a superb save by Robertson.

Two minutes later, Robertson made another excellent save as Burgh broke forward and McKenzie played it to Brophy, who was unmarked. The Burgh attacker took a touch to control it then blasted his shot towards goal but Robertson pulled off a great save.

Full time 5-1

Goals: Wallace, Simeon, Rossiter, S McCann, Small

Starting XI: Waters, Boland, Wallace, Menzies, Naismith, Esplin (C), Brophy, McDonald, S McCann, Simeon, Rossiter

Man of the Match: Malky McDonald

Burgh's win today was convincing, and well-deserved, although it could have been more with Brophy and McKinlay certainly deserving a goal each for their performances, plus McDonald's disallowed goal in the first half could have stood, had the referee had linesmen to assist him. Today's result moves Burgh move up one place in the league to 9th, albeit still with a number of games in hand on every other team in the division. We start to make up those games in hand this week, with a trip to James McGrory next Saturday to play St Roch's. Before that though, it's a trip to North Ayrshire to play Kilwinning Rangers on Wednesday night. We'll be expecting a tougher test at Buffs Park against a side sitting 4th in the league, four points above us. Kick off on Wednesday is at 19:45, we hope to see you there.

Thank you to the fans who braved the elements and turned up to support the boys today. We appreciate your support.