By John Armour
Troon FC 1 Johnstone Burgh FC 2
Johnstone Burgh showed some serious grit and determination to win the three points as they beat Troon 2-1 in Wednesday night’s (16 September) Scottish Lowland League West fixture at Portland Park, Troon.
Burgh manager Stevie Farrell made three changes from the starting XI that played in the 4-4 draw against Cumbernauld Colts at Broadwood Stadium last Saturday (12th September). Out went Kian Gilday, Ian McShane and Malky McDonald, and in came Lewis King, Leon Murphy and Max Kerr.
Johnstone Burgh made the perfect start as they took the lead in the 3rd minute. Mark Durnan’s long ball was poorly dealt with by the Troon defence, as Jamie Mills’s poor clearance fell straight to Max Kerr and he made no mistake as his low left shot from 22 yards found the centre of the net via a deflection off Carter Frew.
Troon were next to threaten in the 6th minute when Ben Hughes lined up a direct free kick 30 yards from goal, but his curling left foot strike went just wide of the left hand post.
The Seasiders had another chance to score in the 11th minute when Kyle Gilroy showed some nice skill on the left wing to create himself an opening, but his high right foot shot from 25 yards was saved by Brett Long.
The Burgh had a great chance to double their lead in the 13th minute when Mark Barrowman launched a long ball up the park from deep inside his own half which found Kris Kerr. Kerr then superbly brought the ball under control at the edge of the box to leave himself with just Troon goalkeeper Martin McDonald to beat, but his left foot shot crept just wide of the right hand post.
The away side came close to scoring again in the 20th minute when Mark Durnan’s first time right foot long range pass put Aaron Mason though on goal, but his right foot shot from 14 yards was well saved by Martin McDonald.
Johnstone Burgh doubled their lead in the 22nd minute with a superbly worked goal when Stuart Faulds’ sharp pass released Kristopher Kerr down the left hand side. He then drove into the box before firing a superb left foot pass across the face of goal to find Max Kerr at the back post, who then made no mistake as he slotted the ball high into the net from 6 yards.
Despite an all action first quarter of the match, there was no further incidents of note in the remainder of the first half, as wind and heavy rain made it increasingly difficult for both sides to create any clear cut chances.
Half time: Troon 0 Johnstone Burgh 2
Troon had the first chance of the second half in the 54th minute when the ball broke to club captain Leyton Dunlop 25 yards from goal, but his first time left foot shot went well wide of the left hand post.
The Seasiders continued to push and had a good chance to pull a goal back in the 63rd minute when the ball broke to Ben Hughes to give him a clear sight of goal, but his left foot shot from 20 yards was saved by Brett Long.
The Burgh had a great chance to make it goal number three in the 67th minute as Aaron Mason’s headed flick on just inside the Troon half released Kristopher Kerr who ran through on goal, but his low right left foot shot from 14 yards was well saved by Troon goalkeeper Rohan Harkins, who had replaced the injured Martin McDonald in the first half.
Troon reduced the deficit with a superb goal in the 74th minute. Max Guthrie laid the ball off to Dario Viviani who, from 25 yards, unleashed an unstoppable right foot shot which flew into the top right hand corner of the net.
The home side had a chance to equalise in the 79th minute as Leyton Dunlop’s corner kick from the left found David Syme, but his header from 8 yards was easily saved by Brett Long.
The final chance of the match came for Troon in the 85th minute as Ben Hughes lined up a direct free kick 25 yards from goal, but his left foot shot went wide of the left hand post. Johnstone Burgh comfortably saw out the final few minutes of the match to secure a fine 2-1 win.
Following tonight’s result, Johnstone Burgh remain in 8th place on the table on 15 points, after 8 matches played.
Full time: Troon FC 1 Johnstone Burgh 2
Troon FC goal: Viviani 74
Johnstone Burgh FC goals: M.Kerr 3+22
Man Of The Match: TBC
Troon FC: McDonald (Harkins 26), Armstrong, Mills, Frew, Syme, Viviani (Craig 81), Dunlop(C) (Armstrong 90), Hughes, Fulton (Guthrie 46), Gilroy, Allan (Ferguson 81).
Unused subs: Morrison, Veitch.
Johnstone Burgh FC: Long, King, Murphy, Barrowman, Durnan, Esplin(C), Faulds, M.Kerr (Williamson 86), K.Kerr (Nosa 84), Watson, Mason.
Unused subs: Scullion, Grady, McKay.
Match Officials:
Referee: Thomas Denholm
Assistant Referee 1: Freya MacDonald
Assistant Referee 2: Gary Robertson
A massive thank you to our fantastic Johnstone Burgh supporters who travelled to Troon tonight to back the team.
Next up for Johnstone Burgh is a trip to Nicol-Togneri Park to face NoSFL Championship side New Elgin JFC in the second round of The Scottish Communities Cup on Saturday, 19th September. Kick off is at 2.30pm.
