Johnstone Burgh win "Battle of the Burgh's" to extend unbeaten run.

‍

Ross McKenzie and Dom Boland both struck in the second half to make it six wins in a row, and extend Johnstone Burgh's unbeaten run to eight.

*Both teams are known as "The Burgh", but in the match report, "The Burgh" will refer only to Johnstone Burgh.

Burgh had the first chance of the game when they awarded a free about 25 yards out for a high foot. Hamish McKinlay and Del Esplin, stood over the ball. The Burgh captain laid it off to McKinlay, who got too much underneath his shot and the ball flew over the bar.

In the seventh minute, the home side came close to breaking the deadlock as a deep cross into the box was headed goalwards by Jordan Smith. The ball struck the inside of the post and bounced back into the arms of a grateful Jamie McGowan in the visitors' goal.

After a series of corners for the away team, Dale Simeon had a chance in the 13th minute as he fired over from 25 yards. Three minutes later, Ross McKenzie's effort from 20 yards was deflected wide for a corner. The corner was swung in by Dale Simeon and met by the head of Stuart McCann. His header was blocked by a defender, and as McKenzie tried to bring the ball under control, the defence put the ball out for another corner. Again, it was swung in by Simeon and this time, met by Jason Naismith, whose glancing header went just wide of the target.

Following some heavy pressing from The Burgh, Musselburgh were forced into mistakes as Burgh pinned them deep inside their own. Boland took a throw in to Brophy, who controlled and, with his back to goal, hit an overhead cross, which found McKinlay, whose volley was saved by Daniel Laing.  

Midway through the first half, Simeon played a great reverse throughball to McKinlay who cut inside Craig Stevenson and fired his effort low at goal, but Laing got down well to make the save. However, it wouldn't have counted as the linesman had raised his flag, ruling McKinlay offside. McKinlay continued being a thorn in the side of Musselburgh down the wing, and a minute later tore down the left and his cross was directed towards goal by Dale Simeon but, unfortunately, his header was straight at Laing.

In the 34th minute McKinlay, this time from the right wing, played a ball into the box and Simeon's airshot meant the ball ran through to Brophy, whose powerful strike produced a great save from Laing. Then, in the 37th minute, Burgh had their best chance of the first half so far as Simeon did brilliantly to bring the ball down on the edge of the box. Laing rushed out but failed to get near the ball as Simeon laid it off to McKinlay who looked certain to score but home captain, Craig Stevenson, excellently read the situation and closed down McKinlay before he could strike it into the net.  

Four minutes before the break, Laing was again called into action. A great ball over the top by Boland saw Brophy pick it up and crossed into the middle. His cross was cleared straight back to him, and he then fizzed in a low cross from the right and McKinlay stabbed it goalwards but Laing made an excellent save with his feet.

With 43 minutes on the clock, Matthew Knox had a shot for the home team but it was straight at McGowan who made an easy save. In the third minute of first half stoppage time, Oban Anderson launched a ball forward from the edge of the centre circle which looked like an overhit pass and McGowan gathered it easily.

Half time: 0-0

Burgh came out in the second half still dominant. And in the fifth minute of the second half, Stuart McCann flicked it on beautifully with a back heel over centre-back Matthew O'Connor, McKenzie controlled it, cut inside the defender and bent it around Laing into the bottom corner at the far post to bag his third of the season.

A minute later, Simeon squared it to Stuart McCann, who struck it first time but his shot was blocked.

Things went from bad to worse for Musselburgh and Matthew O'Connor as he was giving his marching orders in the 54th minute following a desperate lunge in an attempt to dispossess Simeon, who was one on one with Laing. Getting nothing on the ball, and bringing down Simeon, the referee didn't hesitate to produce the red card. Simeon took the resulting free kick, a yard outside the box and, although he cleared the wall, he also cleared the bar as the ball flew over.

On the hour mark, a free kick for the home side on the halfway line gave them an opportunity for a rare venture forward. Musselburgh launched it forwards, and McGowan spilled it, Musselburgh worked it to Jamie Todd who struck at goal but Brady made the block.

On 63 minutes, Dale Simeon had a chance to double The Burgh's lead as he drove a low shot to the near post, but Laing made the save and palmed it out for a corner. Then, in the 66th minute, Daniel Laing had a real heart-in-mouth moment when a free just inside the Musselburgh half was launched into the box by Del Esplin, Laing leapt up to claim the ball but, under pressure from McCann, spilled the ball but, luckily for the home keeper, it fell to a blue shirt rather than a red shirt and the ball was cleared.

The Burgh pressure was relentless as Brophy's cross into the box was tipped away by Laing to prevent McCann nodding in at the back the post then Simeon headed a McKinlay cross across goal but just wide.

Musselburgh appealed for a penalty in the 72nd minute after they claimed that an inswinging corner was handled by Naismith in the box but the referee wasn't interested.

Then, in the 77th minute, Ally Small was brought down about 10 yards outside the box, but the referee missed it and played on. However, this proved to be to The Burgh's benefit as they won the ball back immediately and moved it wide to Dorrans on the left. He squared it to Simeon who proceeded to beat Robert Wilson and fired a low cross across the goal and Dom Boland was there to tap into the empty net at the back post.

With nine minutes to play, Dorrans laid it off to Crooks, making the overlapping run, and his low ball into the box was met with a first-time shot by Dale Simeon, which wrong-footed Laing and went just inches by the post. Although, the linesman had raised his flag for offside so it would not have counted.

Full time: 0-2

Goals: McKenzie, Boland

Starting XI: McGowan, Boland, Crooks, Brady, Naismith, Esplin (C), Brophy, McKenzie, S McCann, Simeon, McKinlay

Man of the Match: Dale Simeon

Thank you to all the fans who made the journey east to cheer on the boys today. It was a truly dominant display by The Burgh with the scoreline probably flattering the hosts as we could've won by much more. Burgh's win sees us progress into the last 16. The fifth round draw takes place on Monday, with matches scheduled for Saturday 03 February 2024. This means that our trip Neilston on this date will be postponed.

Today was our first away game in seven weeks, and we're on the road again next week. This time, in the Indigo Comms West of Scotland Cup as we travel to Barrfields Park for the second round against Premier Division side Largs Thistle, kick off at 13:30, where the winner will face an away tie against the winner of Glenafton Athletic vs Irvine Victoria.