Johnstone Burgh FC 3 Renfrew FC 2
By John Armour
Main picture: Iain Rankin
Johnstone Burgh left it late to claim all three points as they beat Renfrew 3-2 in this afternoon’s (Saturday 26 September 2026) Scottish Lowland League West match at Keanie Park, Johnstone.
Burgh manager Stevie Farrell made two changes from the starting XI that lost 1-0 to Largs Thistle at Barrfields Park on Wednesday night (23rd September). Out went Lewis King and Leon Murphy, and in came Kian Gilday and Del Esplin.
Renfrew had the first chance of the match in the 6th minute. Jordan Moore found himself in plenty of space inside the right side of the box, but he dragged his left foot shot wide of the right hand post from 6 yards.
The home side were next to threaten in the 12th minute. Max Kerr had a clear sight of goal, but his well struck left foot shot from 20 yards was well saved by Renfew goalkeeper Jack Donohoe
Johnstone Burgh opening the scoring in the 13th minute with a fine goal. Ian McShane’s brilliant cross into the box from the right hand side found Mark Barrowman, who produced a fantastic glancing header into the right side of the net from 8 yards.
The Frew had a great chance to equalise in the 20th minute. Aedan Gilfedder only had Brett Long to beat from 8 yards, but somehow fired his right foot shot wide of the right hand post. A huge let off for the home side.
The Keanie Park side had another good effort on goal in the 24 minute. Kristopher Kerr turned and hit a brilliant left foot shot from 20 yards, but Jack Donohoe was equal to the task.
The Burgh doubled their lead in the 34th minute of the match. Kristopher Kerr’s clever pass released Ian McShane in acre’s of space in the right hand side of the box, he then put a fantastic low pass to find Aaron Mason at the back post, who made no mistake as he tapped the ball into the empty net with his right foot from 2 yards.
The away side had a good chance to pull a goal back in the 36th minute. Alan Cook fired a free kick from the right hand side into the box which found Olly Smith, but his header from 6 yards went just over the crossbar.
Johnstone Burgh came close to going 3-0 ahead in the 40th minute. Kian Gilday’s brilliant left foot cross from the left wing found Max Kerr, but his powerful header from 6 yards was superbly saved by Jack Donohoe.
The final chance of the first half came for the home side in the 43rd minute. Max Kerr had a bit of space inside the right hand side of the box, but his right foot shot from 14 yards went over the crossbar.
Thomas Orr celebrating the winning goal. Picture credit: Graham Morgan.
Half time: Johnstone Burgh 2 Renfrew FC 0
Renfew had a great chance to score in the 49th minute. A brilliant cross from the right wing from former Johnstone Burgh player Darren Christie found Sean Fife unmarked 6 yards from goal, but his header went just over the crossbar.
The Burgh were next to threaten in the 52nd minute. Ian McShane’s corner kick found Mark Durnan, but his header from 8 yards was deflected wide of the right hand post.
The Frew scored a fine goal in the 60th minute of the match. Olly Smith’s slick pass put Jordan Moore through on goal, and the former Johnstone Burgh player made no mistake as he calmly stoked a left foot shot from 8 yards in off the right hand post.
Renfew had their tails up and were awarded a penalty kick in the 63 minute. The referee awarded the penalty for a foul by Burgh captain Del Esplin on Aedan Gilfedder, but there is some debate that it was infact Gilfedder who actually fouled Esplin. Up stepped Alan Cook who fired a left foot shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net to level the game in the 64th minute.
The away side had all the momentum at this stage, and came close to taking the lead in the 66th minute. Sean Fyfe’s first time right foot volley from 10 yards looked to be heading for the bottom right hand corner of the net, but Brett Long pulled off an outstanding save.
The New Western Park side continued to look to score their third goal and had another chance in the 68th minute. Aedan Gilfedder had a sight of goal but his right foot shot from 20 yards went over the crossbar.
The Frew had another great chance to score in the 75th minute. Jordan Moore’s low right foot shot from 10 yards was well saved by Brett Long.
Renfrew were looking the more likely team to score the next goal, and had a half chance in the 83rd minute. Darren Christie created himself a good opening but his low right foot shot from 14 yards was saved by Long.
The away side’s final chance of the match came in the 85th minute, and was yet another former Johnstone Burgh player who had the chance to do damage to their former club. Kenzie McCrystal found himself in space, but his left foot shot from 14 yards was well saved by Brett Long.
It was a long second half for Johnstone Burgh, but their moment of glory arrived in the first minute of added time as they scored the goal that would earn them the three points. Max Kerr’s inswinging corner kick from the right found Thomas Orr, and he showed superb compusure as he produced a clinical right side foot volley into the back of the net from 2 yards to send the home support wild.
The referee blew the full time whistle two minutes later to confirm a 3-2 victory and three huge points for Johnstone Burgh.
Following today’s dramatic win, Johnstone Burgh climb two places in the table to 7th place, on 18 points, after ten games played.
Full Time: JOHNSTONE BURGH 3 RENFREW FC 2
Johnstone Burgh FC goals: Barrowman 13, Mason 34, Orr 90+1.
Renfrew FC goals: Moore 60, Cook (pen) 64
Man-of-the-Match: Aaron Mason
Johnstone Burgh FC: Long, Faulds, Gilday, Barrowman, Durnan, Esplin(C) (King 67), M.Kerr, Watson, K.Kerr (Orr 74), McShane, Mason (Jamieson 53).
Unused subs: Scullion(GK), Williamson, Grady, Nosa.
Renfew FC: Donohoe, Doyle (Sexton 46), Cook, McCallum(C), Healy, Fyfe, Black (Christie 46), Smith (Murphy 65), Moore (O’Toole 81), Mahon, Gilfedder (McCrystal 81).
Unused subs: Rutherford, Punton.
Match Officials:
Referee: Liam MacDougall
Assistant Referee 1: Cal Cunningham
Assistant Referee 2: Lyon Fernie
A big thank you to the supporters of both Johnstone Burgh and Renfrew for attending today’s match at Keanie Park.
Next up for Johnstone Burgh is a trip to Blairmount Park to face Newton Stewart FC in the First Round of The Scottish Gas Scottish Cup on Saturday 3rd October. Kick off is at 3.00pm.
