Burgh Ease To Victory In Season Opener

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Burgh cruised to victory in the opening game of the season at New Western Park with goals from new signings Ross McKenzie, Dale Simeon and two from Kyle Lafferty.

The visitors raced into an early lead, courtesy of Ross McKenzie, who was played through one on one with the keeper and kept his composure to find the net. Six minutes later, Lafferty had a great chance to double the lead but poked it wide from Gary McCann's low cross.

Whilst the home side searched for an equaliser, with several attacks, they never looked like scoring and couldn't find a way to test Burgh keeper Kenzie Smyth.

Lafferty looked intent on scoring, and when wrestled to the ground from just under 30 yards out, he took the resulting free kick but could only fire it into the wall. Kieran Brophy was next to have a chance at grabbing the next goal, and saw his shot go just inches past the post.

A minute later, McKenize sent Lafferty away, and his cross was only half cleared by the Renfrew defender. The header only went as far as Dale Simeon whose spectacular overhead kick looped over the keeper and dropped in at the far post.

The next chance of the game fell to Kyle Lafferty, A defence-splitting pass saw him involved in a race to the ball against the Renfrew keeper. Lafferty just got there first, poked it beyond the keeper and, in front of an empty net, blasted the ball in from 3 yards out.

Half time: 0-3

The tempo of the second half slowed down, with the game seemingly over, and it took a while for the first real chance. Brophy picked up a loose ball just outside the box and struck a powerful effort at goal. The keeper spilled it, and Lafferty was there to head home for his second of the afternoon. That would be his final action of the game as he was brought off and replaced by Hamish McKinlay.

Burgh kept pressing, and Stuart McCann will feel he should've done better as he shrugged off his man, found a yard of space and got the shot away but was saved by the foot of the Renfrew keeper. Dylan Fletcher hit a long range volley over the bar. Then Stuart McCann's cut back looked as though Fletcher would turn it in, but the keeper did brilliantly to dive in front of the Burgh striker and prevent the chance.

After match day 1, Burgh sit top of the league on goal difference and Kenzie Smth's clean sheet means Burgh are the only side in the league yet to concede a goal.

Full time 0-4

Goals: McKenzie, Simeon, Lafferty x2

Man of the Match: Malky McDonald

Starting XI: Smyth, Boland, Crooks, McDonald, Menzies, Esplin (C), Brophy, McKenzie, Lafferty, Simeon, G McCann

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