Burgh braced for final shot at promotion
Johnstone Burgh boss Jamie McKim is urging his players to make the most of their heroic recovery by sealing a promotion spot in their last game of the season.
The Renfrewshire club welcome Muirkirk Juniors to Keanie Park this afternoon knowing a draw or a win would be enough to see them climb back into the top four, sending them into the second tier of the West of Scotland Football League next season.
After a stuttering start to their domestic campaign, Burgh have battled back superbly to give themselves an excellent chance of leapfrogging Craigmark Burntonians in 4th place - who have already completed all 30 of their fixtures.
McKim is desperate to see his side make the most of their dramatic recovery to send the club back to their highest division in a number of years.
He told Express Sport:“It’s an absolutely huge game for the club and we know what’s at stake.
“It’s a season-defining game, there’s no two ways about it.
“Considering the way we started the campaign, when we had to reshuffle a lot and overcome a lot of difficulties, the fact we still have a chance of promotion is a huge credit to the players.
“They have done fantastically and now it’s all about taking what we deserve from the entire season.
“It’s a massive game for the club and would put is into the highest division we’ve been in for a number of years.
“We were sitting in something like 11th position after 16 games, so the turnaround has been incredible.
“The boys have been brilliant all season and if we can get it over the line it’ll be a massive achievement.”
Burgh head into the game after an enforced three week absence due to the way the final fixtures fell for each club in Conference A.
While that threatens to kill their momentum, McKim is still confident his players have the mentality and talent to see of Muirkirk and earn a historic promotion.
McKim said:“It’s definitely not ideal that we’re three weeks after our last game against Shotts, there’s no doubting that.
“But we can still take a huge amount of confidence from that win, against one of the two sides who were eventually fighting for the title.
“Out of our last 14 games we’ve won 10 and drawn four, so we’re on an excellent run of form.
“We have to remember that going into the Muirkirk game and I’m fully confident if we play to our potential we’ll get the job done.”
While acknowledging the importance of today’s clash, McKim revealed he’s banned all talk about a draw still being enough to earn fourth spot.
That’s because he believes he’d be doing the players and the fans a disservice if he sent them out looking to hold on for a single point.
McKim added:“I’ve banned any talk about a draw being enough, because all of our nerves would be shot if we tried to just play for a draw.
“I’d be cheating my players and the supporters too if we were trying to play for a draw, because I know we can beat anybody at our level on our day.
“We’ve had amazing crowds for the last two games against Arthurlie and Shotts, so hopefully the supporters will come out in good numbers and back us well again.
“The spirits are really high in the camp and I’m full of belief we can see the season out with a bang.”
Kick-off at Keanie Park today is at 2pm.