Burgh rally to victory
Johnstone romp home in second half
Johnstone Burgh are back in business following a commanding victory over Dunipace on Saturday.
It took until the second half for the Keanie Park side to get themselves going – but it was worth the wait as strikes from Scott Arthur and a Grant Kelly hat-trick secured a crucial three points at home.
Having branded the clash a must-win in the run up to the game, Burgh co-boss Colin Smith admitted he was delighted that his side eventually found their groove following a frustrating first half.
Smith said: “We wanted a reaction in the second half and we got it.
“The two goals that we scored were absolutely brilliant. Rather than being gifted to them, they earned them.
“Obviously the Ashfield game we could have taken something from the game, but we only turned up for the half.
“If we have any aspirations to get back out of this league, we have to win our home games.”
The game got off to a very slow start, with very few chances created by either side.
But Glasgow side Dunipace would be the ones to edge themselves in front in the 38th minute when a poor goal-kick to James Usher was too strong for the midfielder to control.
It bounced straight off of the Burgh man, allowing the Dunipace striker to nip in and fire home at the first time of asking.
But a half-time talking to from Smith and David Brolly seemed to do the trick as Burgh raced out of the traps in the second half.
Burgh made it 1-1 three minutes in as former Renfrew and Vale of Leven striker Scott Arthur volleyed the ball beyond the Dunipace keeper and into the net from the edge of the box.
Kelly soon scored on the 52 minute to make it 2-1 to Burgh. Arthur who was inside the box passed it to Kelly at the edge of the box and he blasted his shot into the corner of the net.
Burgh then made it 3- 1 on the 78th minute as Kelly headed home from inside the box after Grant Gaddie crossed the ball from out wide.
Kelly got his that-trick and completed the scoring five minutes from time when he headed home from inches out.
Co-boss Brolly added: “We did dominate large periods of the first half without causing them too much bother or putting their keeper under too much pressure.
“They had a 10-minute spell where they scored a goal.
“We tell them that in the dressing room – teams are also going to get a spell.
“But when we are on top, we have got to take advantage of that and get goals, which we never did in the first half.
“We knew we were capable of a secondhalf performance, but it was up to us to tell them that they are able to do that.
“But it was a pleasing second half and it was quite comfortable in the end.”