‘Awkward’ squad deny leaders victory
Strathclyde Amat .... 3 Burnside United ....... 3
Burnside United manager Jamie McIssac was pleased with his side’s resilience after they held Strathclyde Amateurs to a 3-3 draw.
With United not having a game last week they went into Sunday’s match away to unbeaten Strathclyde who had yet to drop a point from their previous eight games.
Two great flying saves from Rab Duncan in the Burnside net kept Strathclyde at bay until the half hour mark when Mark McGee was released into the Burnside box. His shot was deflected onto the post but he was quickest to the rebound to score.
The game was quickly level as a long ball forward from Paul Hilston held up in the box which allowed Burnside’s prolific striker Andy Boyce to beat ‘keeper Christopher Braidwood to the ball. He nodded the ball past him before tapping into an empty net.
The second half was a more even affair with both teams trying to seize the initiative. Burnside came close to a second as Andy Boyce had his powerful low drive well saved by Braidwood.
The next blow was struck by Strathclyde as they saw a one-on-one chance saved by Rab Duncan but from the resulting corner Barry Kimmett rose highest to head home at the near post.
Straight from the kick off Strathclyde doubled their lead with their third of the afternoon, exploiting space down the Burnside right and a low cross was turned in by Liam Watson.
The game was to take another twist at the kick off. Andy Boyce played the ball straight to David McKenna on the United left and he beat the right-back with a nutmeg before firing the ball into the bottom corner from a whole 25 yards out.
This kept United’s hopes alive but it also had the effect of spurring on Strathclyde. They thought they had restored their two goal advantage as they rounded Burnside’s Duncan but Stevie Smith was on hand to block the shot at the near post before colliding with the woodwork.
United managed to go up the other end and win a corner after good play from Darren Barr. Barr took the corner himself and found Ian Henry at the front post whose flick on was met by Burnside captain Ross Holland to volley in from close range.
Both teams pushed for the win in the dying moments but each had to settle for a point with Burnside being the happier of the two teams.
United coach McIsaac said: “We showed great character again and it’s a great feeling to keep this club’s unbeaten record run going. We do need to start cutting out silly mistakes which are costing us goals because other teams might punish us further.
“That said, last season after they went 3-1 up we would have rolled over but now we are a different proposition and are an awkward team to play.”