Jack Crawford
JOHNSTONE Burgh manager Murdo Mackinnon has revealed he has had just one training session with his players since moving into the hotseat last month.
The Keanie Park troops have had a relentless run of fixtures in the last two weeks and closed in on promotion to the Premier Division of the West of Scotland Football League by coming from behind to defeat Kilbirnie Ladeside on Saturday.
Scott Lewis had put the visitors ahead but quickfire second-half goals from Kyle Lafferty and Kieran Brophy earned Burgh three points.
The result rounded off a hectic week for Mackinnon’s men, who were also 1-0 winners at Shotts last Tuesday before earning a 2-0 victory against Thorniewood on Thursday.
That made it five wins from five games for the ex-Cumnock boss – with all of those triumphs coming in the space of just 10 days.
It also handed Burgh the chance to clinch promotion with victory against Maybole last night, after The Gazette went to press.
Mackinnon said: “The games are coming thick and fast and it’s been difficult but the boys have been fantastic.
“Kilbirnie were well organised and caused us their own problems on Saturday but I was delighted the boys came through and managed to get us over the line.
“The boys knew the challenge that lay in front of them – and it was a formidable one – but they got themselves on the verge of getting to that common goal.
“I’ve had one training session, which was my first night, and since then it’s been a game just about every other night.
“I’ve worked with some of the players before and been up against some of the others, so it was a matter of getting everyone on the same page.
“The buy-in and commitment has been first class.”
Next up for Burgh is a visit to Rutherglen Glencairn this Saturday before they end the season against Petershill the following week – and Mackinnon admits he will be grateful for some time to prepare between fixtures after a busy start to life in Johnstone.
He added: “It’s not normal, the fixtures we have had recently. There’s not a league in world football that does that.
“It will be great to have that bit of normality, just for a week, and give the guys a bit of a break.”
Kick-off at the Hamish B. Allan Stadium on Saturday is at 2pm.