Burn scrape win against the leaders

Eastfield.. 0 Bannockburn .. 1

Bannockburn were able to keep pressure on league leaders Eastfield thanks to a rather scrappy victory away at Broadwood Stadium.

The visitors started the quickest when within 30 seconds Darren Walker latched on to a long ball but his cross just eluded striker Kyle Dempster.

Their sharp start continued and 10 minutes in, some neat play led Stuart Maitland to force his way into the box and he was subsequently brought down. Kenny McLellan took the spot-kick and sent Eastfield keeper McGuinness the wrong way.

Burn were then on the back foot for long spells of the first half and had stand-in keeper Calum Gray to thank on a couple of occasions when he saved from long-range efforts from the Eastfield attack.

Bannockburn always looked dangerous on the counter-attack and were unfortunate to not double their lead when Walker broke free down the left and unselfishly passed to Chris Ogilvie whose shot was well blocked by the Eastfield keeper.

Bannockburn started the second half much the same as the first by allowing Eastfield a lot of the ball but not allowing them to create a lot of chances.

The home side’s only real chances came from long-range shots from outside the box and one almost brought an equaliser when a free-kick rebounded back to striker Dale Fulton whose shot on the volley was well saved by Gray.

With 15 minutes to go, Bannockburn changed their game plan and personnel when they brought on Knox and Taylor to add an additional striker to stretch the game as Eastfield chased for an equaliser but to no avail.

This was a game that Bannockburn would have felt like a smash and grab job due to the long spells without the ball.

On Saturday, Bannockburn face a last-16 tie in the Scottish Amateur Cup away to Glasgow College League side Maryhill Thistle. The game will be played at Maryhill Juniors’ Lochburn Park with a 2pm ko. Players and supporters leaving Tartan Arms at 12.15pm.