Johnstone Burgh suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to champions in waiting, Auchinleck Talbot, after a battling performance at Beechwood Park, Auchinleck.

Burgh interim manager Graeme Ramage made five changes to the starting XI that lost 4-3 to Kilwinning Rangers at Keanie Park on Saturday. Out went club captain Del Esplin, Ian McShane, Allan MacKenzie, Noah Grady and Jude Cummins, and in came Stuart Faulds, Blair Rossiter, Broque Watson, Aaron Mason and Aiden Gilmartin.

The Johnstone side had the first chance of the match in the 6th minute as Blair Rossiter's free kick from the left hand side found Malky McDonald at the back post via a deflection, but his header from 7 yards was easily saved by Jordan Longmuir.

The Burgh had an even better chance in the 11th minute when Aaron Mason showed some good play on the left just outside the box before he fired a dangerous cross into the box that found Kian Gilday, but his first time volley from 8 yards went well wide of the left hand post.

Auchinleck Talbot had their first chance of the match in the 15th minute when Luke Gillies' corner from the right found Neill McPherson at the back post, but his looping header from around 10 yards went just over the crossbar.

Johnstone Burgh came close to taking the lead in the 16th minute as Broque Watson had a clear sight of goal, but his curling left foot shot from 20 yards that looked to be heading into the bottom left hand corner of the net was superbly saved by Jordan Longmuir.

The Burgh were playing well and had another chance in the 19th minute when Matty Grant found himself some space but his right foot shot from 25 yards was saved by Longmuir.

The away side had yet another good chance to take the lead in the 25th minute as Broque Watson showed some good skill to create himself a chance just inside the left hand side of the box, but the former Broomhill man's right foot shot went wide of the right hand post.

The home side were next to threaten in the 31st minute. Scott Schoenville ran into the box from the left hand side but his right foot shot from 10 yards was well blocked by Scott Forrester.

Auchinleck Talbot were starting to look more dangerous and looked certain to take the lead in the 32nd minute as Kyle McAvoy was through on goal and about to pull the trigger from around 8 yards but Kian Gilday denied him with a brilliant last ditch tackle.

"The Bot" should have taken the lead in the 35th minute when a Burgh corner kick had Talbot produce a sensational counter attack. Kyle McAvoy made a brilliant run down the right hand side and then put the ball on a plate for Connor Boyd, but with just Scullion to beat, his right foot shot from just inside the box went just over the crossbar.

Talbot looked the more dangerous team by this point and had another chance in the 38th minute when Luke Gillies ran into the left hand side of the box, but his left foot shot from 8 yards was saved by Scullion.

In the first minute of added time Auchinleck Talbot had the final chance of the half. After several headers in the box, the ball fell to Cameron Crooks but the former Burgh man's right foot volley from just inside the box was blocked by the head of Matty Grant.

The teams would go in level at half time.

Half time: 0-0

The first 20 minutes of the second half was a very scrappy affair with no incidents of note. However in the 65th minute, Aiden Gilmartin had a great chance to open the scoring for Johnstone Burgh, but his right foot shot from 8 yards was brilliantly blocked by Talbot captain Neill McPherson.

Auchinleck Talbot's first clear chance of the half came in the 70th minute as Connor Boyd's dangerous cross from the right hand side found Ewan Thomson at the back post, but his spectacular overhead kick from 8 yards went just over the crossbar.

In the 72nd minute Auchinleck Talbot finally opened the scoring when Luke Gillies' in-swinging corner kick from the right hand side was headed into the net from 6 yards by club captain Neill McPherson, sending the home support wild.

The home side were looking for goal number two and had a good chance in the 80th minute when Ewan Thomson set up Luke Gillies, but his right foot shot from 12 yards went just wide of the right hand post.

Johnstone Burgh were pushing men forward in search of a late equaliser and had a good chance to do just that in the 90th minute when Aiden Gilmartin played the ball off to Broque Watson, but his right foot shot from 20 yards went well over the crossbar.

It was last chance saloon for the Burgh and they had one final chance to score from a free kick as Kian Gilday was fouled just outside the box by Cameron Crooks in the 4th minute of added time. Up stepped Aiden Gilmartin from 20 yards, but his left foot strike was blocked by the head of Scott Schoenville and the ball fell into the arms of Jordan Longmuir. The referee blew for full time as Auchinleck Talbot secured the win and 3 points to leave them just one more win to be crowned champions due to their far superior goal difference.

Following tonight's defeat, Johnstone Burgh remain in 5th place on 44 points after 29 matches played.

Full time: 1-0

Auchinleck Talbot goal: McPherson 72

Man Of The Match: Kian Gilday

Starting XI: Scullion, Grant, Gilday, Forrester, King, Faulds, Mason (MacKenzie 73), McDonald (C), Gilmartin, Rossiter (Christie 87), Watson

A big thank you to all the Johnstone Burgh supporters who attended tonight's match at Beechwood Park.

Next up for the Burgh is a trip to New Western Park to face Renfrew FC in our final match of the WoSFL Premier Division season on Saturday 16th May. Kick off is at 2pm

‍©Match Report: John
©Images: Mitch, Iain, Graham