Johnstone Burgh moved up to 4th place in the WoSFL Premier Division, after a comfortable 2-0 win over Shotts Bon Accord FC at a sunny, cold and breezy Keanie Park, Johnstone.

Johnstone Burgh interim manager Graeme Ramage made 5 changes from the starting XI that played in the 3-2 defeat to Renfrew FC at Keanie Park on Wednesday night. Out went Matty Grant, Ross MacKinnon, Darren Christie, Aiden Gilmartin and Nicholas Gallagher, and in came Stuart Faulds, Kian Gilday, Craig Menzies, Blair Rossiter and Kyle Lafferty.

Shotts Bon Accord came close to scoring through an own goal in the 13th minute when a dangerous in-swinging corner from the right hand side was headed off the underside of the crossbar by Burgh defender Scott Forrester.

Shotts had another great chance to take the lead in the 20th minute. A lovely pass from Darren Bowie found Ben Richford, but his left foot shot from 12 yards was well saved by Luke Scullion who tipped the ball round the right hand post. From the resulting corner kick, Taylor Evans had a chance to score, but his header from 6 yards was once again well saved by Scullion.

Shotts continued to create chances and came close to scoring in the 28th minute as Darren Bowie put through yet another lovely pass to Ben Richford, but his left foot shot from 14 yards went just wide of the right hand post.

Shotts continued to search for the opening goal, and came close again in the 35th minute. Dylan McGuigan had a sight of goal from 20 yards, but his left foot shot was kept out by Luke Scullion.

It was a frustrating first half for the Burgh, who had struggled to create a single clear cut chance, but that changed in the 39th minute. Blair Rossiter showed determined play down the left hand side before putting a dangerous ball into the box which broke to Ian McShane, but with just Sandy Thomson to beat, the former East Kilbride man blazed the ball over the crossbar from around 10 yards.

The first half ended goalless.

Half time: 0-0

Johnstone Burgh made a good start to the second half, and took the lead in the 52nd minute. Malky McDonald squared the ball to an unmarked Ian McShane, who fired a low right foot shot into the back of the net from 8 yards.

Shotts Bon Accord had two good chances to equalise in the 54th minute. Ben Richmond had his right foot shot blocked from around 14 yards before the ball then fell to Taylor Evans, but his left foot shot was blocked from 8 yards as the Burgh defence held firm.

In the 57th minute, Broque Watson made a brilliant run into the box, but his left foot shot from 10 yards went wide of the left hand post.

With the game still in the balance, Kyle Lafferty won a penalty for Johnstone Burgh after he was brought down by Sandy Thomson following a mix up in the Shotts defence. The former Rangers man had his penalty saved by Thomson, but was on hand to fire the rebound high into the net, from 7 yards in the 70th minute.

With the Burgh in cruise control, Shotts had 2 chances to pull a goal back in a matter of seconds in the 72nd minute. A long ball cut through the Burgh defence put Taylor Evans through on goal, but his right foot shot from 10 yards was blocked by Scullion. The rebound then fell to Ben Richford, but his left foot shot from 16 yards went over the crossbar.

In the 88th minute, Johnstone Burgh almost made it goal number three of the afternoon when Blair Rossiter played a superb long ball to Aiden Gilmartin, who, from 18 yards, fired a superb first time left foot shot that looked to be heading into the top right hand corner of the net. However, Sandy Thomson made an incredible save to deny the former St Mirren man.

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

Following today's result, Johnstone Burgh move up to 4th place in the table, on 43 points after 24 matches played.

Full time: 2-0

Johnstone Burgh goals: McShane 52, Lafferty 70

Man Of The Match: Malky McDonald

Starting XI: Scullion, Faulds, Gilday, Menzies (Mullen 82), Forrester, Esplin (C) (Gilmartin 71), Rossiter, McDonald (Christie 82), Lafferty (Gallagher 82), Watson (Mason 63)

A big thank you to the Johnstone Burgh and Shotts Bon Accord supporters for attending today's match. Also a special mention to everyone who helped make the pitch playable this morning to ensure today's match went ahead.

Next up for the Burgh is Troon FC in the WoSFL Premier Division under the lights at Keanie Park on Wednesday 22nd April. Kick off is at 7:30pm

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