By John Armour
Johnstone Burgh FC 2-0 Troon FC
After a fine pre-season for Johnstone Burgh, the waiting was finally over as the club played their first ever Scottish Lowland League West fixture against Troon FC at Keanie Park, under the lights, on Wednesday 29th July. The team delivered on an historic evening for the club, as the Stevie Farrell era began with a fine 2-0 win to secure the three points. Mark Durnan opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a right foot volley high into the net from 4 yards from an Ian McShane corner kick. Aaron Mason completed the scoring in the 70th minute, with a spectacular right foot shot that flew high into the net from 16 yards.
Celtic B FC 1-1 Johnstone Burgh FC
Next up for Johnstone Burgh was a trip to The Albert Bartlett Stadium in Airdrie to face Celtic B FC on Saturday 1st August. It was another good result for the Burgh as they secured a point with a hard fought 1-1 draw, despite going down to 10 men in the 79th minute after Aaron Mason recieved a second yellow card for dissent. Francis Turley gave Celtic B the lead in the 2nd minute, with a clinical right foot finish from 12 yards into the bottom left hand corner of the net. Stuart Faulds earned Johnstone Burgh a point with a fantastic equaliser in the 36th minute, as he curled a left foot shot into the top left hand corner of the net from 17 yards.
Gabriel Nosa Aobohan Erhabor
On Friday 7th August, the club announced the signing of 18 year old striker Gabrial Nosa Aobohan Erhabor on loan from Partick Thistle FC for the rest of the 2026/27 season.
Johnstone Burgh FC 2-2 Albion Rovers FC
It was back to business on the pitch, as we welcomed Albion Rovers to Keanie Park on Saturday 8th August. The match ended 2-2 but there was a feeling of 2 points dropped, rather than 1 point gained, as the referee blew the full time whistle. Johnstone Burgh stormed into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals in the 10th and 16th minute, courtesy of two left foot shots from outside the box from Max Kerr. Thomas Orr had the chance to put the Burgh 3-0 up from the penalty spot in the 35th minute, but his right foot effort was saved by Grant Tamosevicius. Albion Rovers pulled a goal back in the 61st minute thanks to a fine, curling, left foot shot from Barry Duncan that found the top left hand corner of the net from 12 yards. Devan McColl earned “The Wee Rovers” a point with a sensational 30 yard left foot strike that found the top left hand corner of the net in the 83rd minute. Mark Durnan was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in injury time to complete a frustrating afternoon for Johnstone Burgh.
Kyle Lafferty
On Monday 10th August the club announced the departure of 38 year old striker Kyle Lafferty who signed for WoSFL Division 2 club Forth Wanderers on a 2 year deal. Kyle played a huge part in Johnstone Burgh’s rise to the Scottish Lowland League West in his 3 years at the club. He will forever be remembered as the man who scored the winning penalty in the shootout against Tranent, in the Scottish Junior Cup Final on Sunday 1st June 2025, ending Johnstone Burgh’s 57 year wait to lift the famous old trophy.
Pollok FC 3-1 Johnstone Burgh FC
The Burgh travelled to Newlandsfield Park to face Pollok FC on Wednesday 19th August under the lights in Glasgow’s Southside. It was not to be their night as Pollok secured the 3 points with a 3-1 victory. Olly Cameron gave the home side the lead in the 9th minute with a first time right foot into the net from 8 yards. Ian McShane equalised for Johnstone Burgh in the 15th minute as he capitalised on an error from Pollok goalkeeper KP McAllister to stroke the ball into the net with his left foot from 8 yards. “The Lok” regained the lead in the 21st minute as club captain Jamie Bain produced a fine right foot shot that found the top right hand corner of the net from 8 yards. Pollok scored their third and the final goal of the match in the 65th minute thanks to a brilliant counter attack that was finished off by Lee Gallacher who curled a superb left foot shot into the top left hand corner of the net in off the post.
Johnstone Burgh FC 3-2 Newton Stewart FC
The Burgh welcomed Newton Stewart FC to Keanie Park on Saturday 22nd August. It was to be their day as they secured the 3 points with a hard fought 3-2 victory. Mark Durnan opened the scoring for the home side in the 39th minute as his left foot volley from 8 yards found the top right hand corner of the net from Mark Barrowman’s knockdown. Johnstone Burgh scored their second goal of the match in the 45th minute to secure a 2-0 half time lead. Thomas Orr showed brilliant skill and pace down the left wing before running into the box and squaring the ball to Broque Watson, who then made no mistake as he stroked the ball into the back of the net with his right foot from 8 yards. Newton Stewart pulled a goal back in the 61st minute as club captain Marc Whyte nodded Aaron Drysdale’s cross just over the line from 3 yards. The home side regained their 2 goal lead in the 66th minute. Once again Thomas Orr showed composure by squaring the ball to Broque Watson who tapped the ball into the back of the net with his right foot from 4 yards. “The Creesiders” scored their second and the final goal of the match to reduce the score to 3-2 in the 81st minute. Marc Whyte’s cross found Aaron Drysdale at the back post, who then produced a fine downward header into the right hand corner of the net from 8 yards. Johnstone Burgh seen out the remainder of the game to seal a 3-2 victory.
Johnstone Burgh FC 4-0 Dalbeattie Star FC
Johnstone Burgh welcomed Dalbeattie Star FC to Keanie Park on Saturday 29th August. It was to be another positive day for the Burgh, as they secured all 3 points with a convincing 4-0 victory. The Keanie Park side suffered a major setback in the 31st minute as Thomas Orr was shown a straight red card for appearing to throw his elbow into the face of Dylan Woods. The home side showed patience though, and scored the opening goal of the match in the 69th minute. Leon Murphy’s cross found Kristopher Kerr, who controlled the ball brilliantly before firing a clinical left foot shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net from 10 yards. The Keanie Park side were flying and scored their second goal to go 2-0 up in the 80th minute. A fantastic one-two between Ian McShane and Aaron Mason put McShane himself in a great position to poke the ball with his right foot into the bottom left hand corner of the net from 6 yards. A minute later Aaron Mason and Kristopher Kerr combined to set up Max Kerr, who had the simple task to stroke the ball into the back of the net with his left foot from 5 yards to make it 3-0. Johnstone Burgh went 4-0 up with the last kick of the match in the third minute of added time. Ian McShane’s brilliant pass released Max Kerr down the right hand side, before squaring the ball to Broque Watson, who produced a fine first time right foot finish into the bottom left hand corner of the net from 10 yards.
Scottish Lowland League West Recap
After 6 matches in the Scottish Lowland League West, the club has 3 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss. As of 31st August, Johnstone Burgh are currently sitting in 8th position on the table, with 11 points and a goal difference of +5, 5 points behind league leaders Auchinleck Talbot who have completed 7 matches.
SEPTEMBER 2026 FIXTURES
St Anthony’s FC v Johnstone Burgh FC
South Region Challenge Cup 2nd Round
Saturday 5th September 2026. Kick off 14:00
McKenna Park, Glasgow G51 4JQ
Cumbernauld Colts FC v Johnstone Burgh FC
Scottish Lowland League West
Saturday 12th September 2026. Kick off 15:00
Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld G68 9NE
Troon FC v Johnstone Burgh FC
Scottish Lowland League West
Wednesday 16th September 2026. Kick off 19:45
Portland Park, Troon KA10 6RP
New Elgin FC v Johnstone Burgh FC
Scottish Communities Cup 2nd Round
Saturday 19th September 2026. Kick off 14:30
Nicol-Togneri Park, Elgin IV30 6DF
Largs Thistle FC v Johnstone Burgh FC
Scottish Lowland League West
Wednesday 23rd September 2026. Kick off 19:15
Barrfields Park, Largs KA30 8NP
Johnstone Burgh FC v Renfrew FC
Scottish Lowland League West
Saturday 26th September 2026. Kick off 15:00
Keanie Park, Johnstone PA5 9PE
We will be back again on Thursday 1st October with a review of Johnstone Burgh’s upcoming 6 fixtures in September, and any other big news coming out of Keanie Park.
