Latest news with #MurdoMacKinnon
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Johnstone Burgh up and running in landmark Scottish Cup journey
Murdo MacKinnon's side ran out comfortable winners over Irvine Meadow in their first-ever tie in the competition. IRVINE MEADOW...1 JOHNSTONE BURGH...4 Johnstone Burgh enjoyed a Scottish Cup debut to remember as they marched into preliminary round two of the competition. The West of Scotland League Premier Division side got one over First Division opponents Irvine Meadow and former gaffer Jamie McKim on Saturday. Murdo MacKinnon's men will now face Whitburn Juniors for a place in the first round proper – the tie itself is a repeat of the Junior Cup final of 25 years ago which the West Lothian outfit won on penalties. MacKinnon was back in the dugout for the trip to Medda and was forced to make three changes with Scott Forrester, Kyle Lafferty and Allan MacKenzie replacing the injured Matty Grant, Stuart Faulds and Ciaran Diver. Ian McShane tested Medda keeper Jamie Barclay with a free-kick before the home side were reduced to 10 men. Kian Gilday was pulled down with referee Josh Hay deciding Lyall Holding had denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity and sent him packing. Burgh executed the resulting free-kick perfectly. Lafferty looked as though he would strike the ball, however, he stepped over it and fooled the wall who jumped. With the defensive wall disjointed, Blair Rossiter saw the perfect gap and he found the back of the net. However, Medda equalised on the hour mark to breathe fresh life into the tie. Keeper Luke Scullion's clearance was intercepted just inside the opposition half by Dale Moore. The left-back played it first time to Euan Baird who raced forward. From there, he cut back to Jojo Gillespie who knocked the ball into the net from close range. Burgh would soon restore their lead. A lovely cross from Aaron Mason found Lafferty who nodded home from close range. The former Rangers and Northern Ireland forward showed his class once more as he earned his side a two-goal cushion with 10 minutes to go. Two minutes later, substitute Aiden Gilmartin rounded off the scoring by hitting a sweet effort which whizzed past Barclay. Boss MacKinnon was delighted to see his side overcome what he admitted was a tough game. 'I thought it was a hard game but was well contested against two good teams,' he said afterwards. 'Irvine are a real dangerous side as they have a bit of pace at the top end of the pitch but there was good football played by the two sides. 'We got the right players on the ball at the right time. We took the game by the scruff of the neck after the levelled. Getting pressure on their backline [was important] and we looked to get players higher. Overall 4-1 is a terrific result.'
Daily Record
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Pride as Johnstone Burgh reach Junior Cup Final for first time in 25 years
The Renfrewshire outfit overturned a one-goal deficit to see off Largs Thistle at Barrfields on Sunday. LARGS THISTLE...0 JOHNSTONE BURGH...2 (Johnstone Burgh won 2-1 on aggregate) Murdo MacKinnon was bursting with pride as Johnstone Burgh reached their first Junior Cup final in 25 years. Two well-taken goals by Ciaran Diver and Aaron Mason saw the Renfrewshire side triumph over West of Scotland League Premier Division rivals Largs Thistle at sun-drenched Barrfields on Sunday. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Burgh produced a textbook away-day performance to sink the Seasiders and book a showdown with Lowland League Tranent. The sides will fight it out for the coveted piece of silverware at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, on Sunday, June 1. Burgh got their hands on the trophy the last time they made it to the final in 2000 – beating Whitburn on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Partick Thistle's Firhill. Now the class of 2024-25 have a huge opportunity to write their names into club folklore and MacKinnon insists they deserve their big moment. The Keanie Park gaffer said: 'I thought my players were magnificent, to a man, with the effort and work they put in. You saw at the end – players had cramp, injuries – but refused to come off the park. You can see how much it meant to them. 'Largs is a tough place to come and credit to them. Not many teams come here and win by two clear goals but my boys have turned up and done it. I can't tell you how proud I am of them. 'For the first goal, Ciaran's gone by two centre-halves as if they weren't there and he's got that in his locker and it was a great finish from Aaron which was a tremendous way to win the game.' In front of a big crowd, Burgh took the lead in the 15th minute when Diver raced clear and slid the ball under the keeper and into the net. Chances were few and far between and it took until after the restart before the next clear opportunity when Burgh keeper Luke Scullion blocked Will Sewell's deflected strike. In the 72nd minute, Largs went close when Blair Devine's cross found Travis Stracey who nodded just wide. With the tie evenly poised at 1-1, Burgh made what proved to be the decisive breakthrough six minutes later when Mason produced a stylish finish into the bottom corner of the net. Largs refused to surrender and, in the 83rd minute, Devine headed against the bar from a free-kick with David McGrath's follow-up held by Scullion. In the third minute of time added on, the Seasiders had one final crack at goal but Sewell's effort from a narrowing angle flew over the bar. Scenes of celebration among the Burgh contingent greeted the final whistle – this long campaign lives on and all roads now lead to North Lanarkshire.
