Johnstone Burgh came out on top in their second pre-season friendly, as they produced a fine 2-0 win over St Roch’s at James McGrory Park, Glasgow.

Burgh manager Stevie Farrell made 5 changes to the starting XI that played in the 4-1 defeat to Annan Athletic on Tuesday evening. Out went Kian Gilday, Calvin McGrory, Ian McShane, Max Kerr and Aaron Mason. In came new signing Scott Williamson, Aiden O’Neill, Scott Forrester, Nicholas Gallagher and Broque Watson.

The Burgh had the first chance of the match in the 4th minute when Leon Murphy ran on to Kristopher Kerr’s headed flick on, but his right foot shot from 14 yards was well saved by St Roch’s goalkeeper John Stark.

The Johnstone side had the next chance to score in the 11th minute when Kristopher Kerr layed the ball off to Leon Murphy, but his powerful left foot shot from 18 yards was brilliantly saved by Stark.
Johnstone Burgh were well on top by this point and came close to opening the scoring in the 14th minute. Stuart Faulds played a superb long range pass to Leon Murphy, who controlled the ball brilliantly before running into the box but his left foot shot from 8 yards went just wide of the right hand post.

St Roch’s first chance of the match came in the 19th minute when the ball broke to Jack McKilveen in the box, but his left foot shot from 10 yards was deflected on to the left hand post. A big let off for the Burgh.

In the 23rd minute the referee stopped play to begin the “hydration break” for both sets of players as a taste of the world cup arrived at James McGrory Park.

The next chance of the match fell to Burgh’s Kristopher Kerr in the 29th minute. The new signing from Hurlford United had a sight of goal, but his left foot shot from 20 yards from Nico Gallagher’s lay off went well over the crossbar.

In the 35th minute, new signing Thomas Orr came off the bench to make his debut, to replace the injured Leon Murphy.

In the 41st minute it was Johnstone Burgh that would would come close to opening the scoring. Broque Watson layed the ball off to Malky McDonald, but his powerful right foot shot from 16 yards, via a deflection, was brilliantly kept out by Stark.

The Burgh continued to push for the opening goal just before half time. In the 43rd minute, Thomas Orr’s pass put Kristopher Kerr in on goal but his right foot shot was easily kept out by Stark.
In the first minute of first half stoppage time, it looked like Johnstone Burgh were at last going to get that opening goal as Stuart Faulds produced a sensational defence splitting pass to Kristopher Kerr, who then took the ball around John Stark, but from a tight angle, his left foot shot from 8 yards went just wide of the right hand post. A big let off for “The Candy”.

In the final act of the first half, St Roch’s had a free kick around 20 yards from goal on the right hand side. Up stepped Jamie Adam who attempted a right footed cross-come-shot which was well saved by Burgh goalkeeper Brett Long.

The teams went in level at the break.

Half time: 0-0
Just 20 seconds into the second half St Roch’s had a brilliant chance to take the lead. Lennon Pirrie’s sublime pass put Kris Amponsah through on goal, but his shot from 18 yards was superbly saved by Brett Long, who got the finest of touches to divert the ball just wide of the right hand post.

The second half became scrappy with the wind and rain making the playing conditions more than difficult. In the 65th minute the Burgh created their first chance of the second period. Broque Watson’s corner kick from the left found Mark Durnan, but his header from 6 yards went wide of the right hand post.

In the 68th minute, St Roch’s had the best chance of the match. From a ball played across the face of goal, “The Candy’s” Kane had an empty net to aim at from a yard out, but with the goal at his mercy, somehow his shot hit the crossbar. A chance that looked easier to score than miss.

The home side had the next chance to open the scoring in the 75th minute. Lennon Pirrie showed some nice skill to create himself a sight of goal but his right foot shot from 20 yards was saved by Long.
Just a minute later the next chance came for Johnstone Burgh as Broque Watson’s fine turn, then right foot shot from 16 yards, was deflected wide for a corner kick.

The Burgh would finally open the scoring in the 79th minute. Del Esplin produced a brilliant defence splitting pass that found Thomas Orr, and the former Cumnock Juniors man made no mistake as he fired a clinical left foot shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net from 10 yards, to score on his debut for the club.

In the 80th minute, St Roch’s had a chance to level the match as Lennon Pirrie had a sight of goal, but his right foot shot from 16 yards went just over the crossbar.

Johnstone Burgh scored their second goal of the match in the 85th minute when Kristopher Kerr’s fine pass found Thomas Orr, and once again he showed his class as he lashed a right foot shot from 10 yards past Kieran Hughes into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

The Burgh would see out the final 5 minutes of the match to secure a 2-0 win.

Full time: 0-2
Johnstone Burgh goals: Orr 79+85

Starting XI: Long, Williamson (Grady 60), O’Neill, Forrester, Durnan (C), Faulds, K.Kerr, McDonald (Esplin 60), Gallagher (MacKinnon 70), Watson, Murphy (Orr 35)

A big thank you as always to all the Johnstone Burgh supporters who made the journey to Glasgow today. Thank you to our hosts St Roch’s FC, we wish you the best of luck for the new season.
Next up for the Burgh is a pre-season friendly against Elgin City at Keanie Park on Saturday 4th July. Kick off is at 2pm. We look forward to welcoming you back to Keanie Park for the new season.