On an historic night for the club, Johnstone Burgh suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to a ruthless Auchinleck Talbot side under the lights at Keanie Park, Johnstone.

Johnstone Burgh manager, Murdo MacKinnon, made two changes to the team that started the 1-0 win over Dundee Violet at the weekend. Cammy Eadie came in for Danny O'Neill and Del Esplin for Leon Murphy.

The Burgh started well and had the first attempt at goal in the ninth minute, following a good run from Kian Gilday on the left hand side. However, a well struck shot from 12 yards was saved by Talbot goalkeeper Jordan Longmuir.

Burgh midfielder Ian McShane had a great chance to give the home side the lead in the 14th minute. Aaron Mason provided a fine pass to the former East Kilbride man, but his powerful right foot shot, 16 yards from goal, flew just over the crossbar.

Johnstone Burgh winger Aaron Mason, who recently signed a new deal with the club, had a fine effort 25 yards from goal deflected just wide of the left hand post on the 20 minute mark. Just one minute later, Mason would come even closer to opening the scoring. He found some space 20 yards from goal and unleashed a great strike which hit the top of the crossbar.

Auchinleck Talbot, who had a fairly quiet start to the match, came to life in the 22nd minute, as Luke Main had a sight of the goal from seven yards. However, his effort was brilliantly blocked by Burgh captain Del Esplin. From the resulting corner, Auchinleck Talbot would take the lead through captain Neill McPherson, whose downward header found the net eight yards from goal in the 23rd minute.

Talbot's tails were up and they would score their second goal of the evening in the 26th minute. A quick, dangerous attack down the right hand side was finished brilliantly by Cameron Keay, who fired the ball past Burgh goalkeeper Luke Scullion from 12 yards, leaving him with no chance of saving.

Blair Rossiter had a half chance for the Burgh on the half hour mark, but his shot from 10 yards was well blocked by the Talbot defender.

Auchinleck Talbot were looking for goal number three and came close through Kyle McAvoy, who fired his low shot just wide of the left hand post, 10 yards from goal, following a powerful run in the 35th minute.

Things would go from bad to worse for Johnstone Burgh, as they would go 3-0 down in the 39th minute. Kian Gilday appeared to be in control, following a long high ball down the middle, but he stumbled around 30 yards from goal. It would be Cameron Keay who took full advantage as he ran through on goal, and produced a clinical right foot finish from 16 yards, into the net for his second goal of the night.

Johnstone Burgh captain, Del Esplin, found a bit of space around 20 yards from goal, but his shot went well over the crossbar in the 45th minute. It would be Talbot who would have the final say of the first half, in the 2nd minute of added time, as the impressive Kyle McAvoy produced a lovely bit of skill before firing an unstoppable low shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net from 20 yards, to put Auchinleck Talbot 4-0 up at half time.

Half time: 0-4

The second half of the match, unsurprisingly was a pretty low key affair.

Auchinleck Talbot's Ross Clark came close to scoring, but his well struck shot, 14 yards from goal, was well saved by Luke Scullion in the 63rd minute.

Next to threaten was Talbot's Scott Schoneville, whose shot from around 40 yards flew well over the crossbar in the 68th minute. A minute later, Aaron Mason had a sight of goal, but his effort from 30 yards drifted over the crossbar.

Kyle Lafferty, who replaced Ian McShane at half time, had the chance from a free kick around 25 yards from goal, but his right foot strike went well over the crossbar with 73 minutes of the match played.

In the 74th minute, "The Bot" came close to adding their fifth goal of the night, but Luke Scullion did well to save the powerful shot from just inside the box

The final chance of the match would come for Auchinleck Talbot, but Ross Clark's shot from eight yards could only hit the side netting in the 83rd minute.

The final whistle would blow, to confirm a very convincing 4-0 win for Auchinleck Talbot, who take the three points back down the road to Auchinleck.

After tonight's defeat, Johnstone Burgh remain in 9th place on 24 points after 12 games played.

Full time: 0-4

Starting XI: Scullion, King (O'Neill 46), Gilday, Eadie, Forrester, Esplin (C) (McDonald 78), Rossiter (Christie 74), Faulds, Diver (MacKenzie 58), McShane (Lafferty 46), Mason

Man of the match: Aaron Mason

As always, a big thank you to the Johnstone Burgh supporters and to our visitors from Auchinleck, who turned out in huge numbers tonight to see the club's first match played under the new floodlights. Also a special thank you to Provost Lorraine Cameron, Johnstone Burgh Chairman Brian Williams, co-owner Jack Henderson and two members of our 1968 Scottish Junior Cup winning team, captain George Caughey and Nicky House, who were part of the official ceremony to switch on the lights on this historic night.

Next up for Johnstone Burgh is a trip to Newlandsfield Park, when we will take on Pollok FC in the WoSFL Premier Division on Saturday 28th February at 2pm.

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