Burgh Beat Kilwinning At Buffs Park

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A late Dale Simeon volley, following two goals from Blair Rossiter, earned Burgh victory in Ayrshire.

Malky McDonald had the game's first chance as he shot from 20 yards but his left-footed effort was caught by the wind and went wide, not troubling Buffs keeper Craig Gordon.

The hosts' first chance came after five minutes. A free kick near the corner flag was swung into the box and met by a Kilwinning head but went well wide.

With strong winds howling across Buffs Park, chances were few and far between in the first half as both sides struggled to adjust to the conditions. In the 14th minute, Stuart McCann almost found himself one on one with the Buffs keeper after a pass was miscontrolled by Neil McGregor and McCann pounced. However, at the last moment, McGregor lunged into a tackle, timing it to perfection to nick the ball away from McCann and preventing the Burgh striker being presented with a golden opportunity to open the scoring.

Burgh then had the half's best chance in the 19th minute and Brophy ran on to a throughball from Boland, when Brophy did excellently to keep the ball in play, hooking it across the goal and Dale Simeon's header crashed off the underside of the bar, and the home side were able to clear the ball.

On the half-hour mark, Dale Simeon crossed from the right wing and McDonald's powerful, downwards header took a deflection off the defender and took the sting out of it, allowing Gordon to gather the ball.

Burgh came close to breaking the deadlock in the 40th minute. Blair Rossiter's teasing ball into the box only needed a touch to knock it into the net. McCann lunged at it and was centimetres from getting the touch.

The visitors had one final chance before half time as another cross from Rossiter on the left found Brophy but his header was saved by Gordon at point blank range.

Half time: 0-0

The game burst into life in the 48th minute when Joe Coleman's ball forward to the edge of the box was chested under control by Graham Boyd and volleyed sweetly into the bottom corner, beating Marc Waters and giving The Buffs the lead.

That lead lasted only five minutes as Buffs midfielder Mark Lamont couldn't bring the ball under control, allowing Simeon to stab the ball to Rossiter, who struck it beautifully into the bottom corner from around 25 yards out, giving Gordon no chance.

A minute later, Burgh were handed an opportunity to take the lead when Neil McGregor's mis-hit pass on the half way line was intercepted by McCann, who played through Simeon. As Simeon raced into the box and cut it back, it hit the arm of McGregor as he slid in to block the cross after he'd sprinted back to try to atone for giving the ball away. The referee initially played on, but his assistant indicated that it was indeed handball, and Ross Menzies eventually pointed to the spot and awarded Burgh the penalty. Rossiter stepped up to take it and sent the keeper the wrong way to make it three goals in two appearances for The Burgh and give the visitors the lead.

Like Kilwinning, Burgh's lead also lasted only five minutes when a free kick midway inside the Burgh half was launched forward and Neil McGregor, who had his back to goal, flicked it on beyond the advancing Marc Waters and levelled the score.

After a frantic start to the second half, with four goals in 15 minutes, the game settled down again, becoming much like the first half, with chances few and far between.

With 10 minutes left to play, Mark Lamont struck from 25 yards. His shot sent Waters scurrying across his goal but it went wide of the target.

Two minutes later, Burgh had the lead again. Rossiter's inswinging corner looked as though it might dip in at the back post, and Gordon clawed it away. However, the ball fell straight to Simeon who volleyed in from close range.

From here, The Buffs threw everything at Burgh to try to snatch a point, but The Burgh defended superbly and held on for a deserved win. Burgh did have the ball in the net in the 93rd minute as they charged forward in numbers on the counter attack as The Buffs left themselves exposed in their efforts to grab a draw. McCann played through Simeon, who the passed across the box looking to find Ally Small, but the ball found Rossiter, who did well to dummy the keeper and slot it in, but the flag had been raised for offside.

The win was hard-fought and well-earned in wet and windy conditions that both teams found difficult. We now look to Saturday's game, in which we host St Roch's. Please remember that although this is a home game, the match will take place at New Western Park in Renfrew. The game kicks off at 13:30, with the usual Burgh admission prices applicable (£8 adults, £4 concession, U16's free and season tickets valid).

As always, thank you to the fans who travelled to Ayrshire tonight and braved the elements to support The Burgh, your support is appreciated.

Full time: 2-3

Goals: Rossiter x2, Simeon

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

Man of the Match: Blair Rossiter