Greenock Telegraph | Sport | Johnstone Burgh draw with Clydebank

Friday, 9th January, 2009

Published: Wednesday, 19th September, 2007 12:30

Johnstone Burgh draw with Clydebank

Pegged back after taking lead

BURGH dropped a point after taking the lead in a hard fought encounter against Clydebank at Keanie Park.

Both sides finished with ten men and a further eleven were booked in a match which, although keenly contested, was never dirty.

Keanie Park was in great condition, however the swirling wind would make it a difficult proposition for both sets of players. Burgh had the wind at their back in the first half and were first to adapt.

Their long ball game suiting the blustery conditions and Mark Ferris found himself free on the right hand side, however his attempted lob was stopped one handed by Wilson.

Clydebank’s first shot at goal came from Alan Jack. — a free kick that sailed wildly over the bar. Jack was involved again moments later when he picked up a loose ball and opted to shoot from fully 30 yards.

Again, as was to be a feature of the game, the midfielder’s shot was well over the top

Burgh had a double chance to take the lead after ten minutes when poor marking allowed Brolly a free shot on goal, however Wilson saved well. The striker had another bite at the cherry from the rebound, but fired over.

Hailstones had the ball in the net after a quarter of an hour, but the ref harshly adjudged Paul Craig’s challenge on Alan Donohoe in the Burgh goal as a foul. Lennox was the first of many to be booked, and was quickly followed by Adam Niscanci.

As the visitors searched for the opening goal, further goalscoring opportunities came to Jack, Carr, and Hailstones but they were unable to convert any of the chances that came their way

They were to rue these misses as Burgh took the lead on 28 minutes when a long ball found Davy Brolly had an easy task to knock it past the keeper and into the net.

Niscanci was substituted after two poor challenges as the midfielder’s earlier booking looked likely to turn red, but the Burgh bench took action.

The game became bogged down in the lead up to the break and only a Jack shot that went wide, after a neat one-two with Kenna and a header flashed wide by Brolly were the only chances of note.

Johnstone Burgh were still a threat on the break as the second half began and another Brolly header went just wide.

However, within a minute the Bankies were on level terms when Paul Craig fired in a low cross that found Alan Jack on his own and he slotted the ball into the corner of the net.

The referee had been card happy all day, and it was no surprise when he produced not one, but two reds.

A throw in down the right flank led to a tussle between Lappin and Armour. It seemed innocuous enough, but the ref instantly waved red cards at both players.

Neither player complained, which suggested the ref had got it right.

The home side could have claimed all three points right at the death when an unbelievable stramash in the Bankies six yard box saw the ball fly over the bar, when it seemed certain a goal would be scored.

Social Bookmarking What are these?