It was an opening day defeat for The Buffs as they were beaten 0-2 by title favourites Johnstone Burgh in a tightly contested affair. It was The Burgh’s clinical finishing through Blair Rossiter and Ciaran Diver which separated the sides at Buffs Park, with both teams creating more than enough chances to win the game.
It was Johnstone Burgh who had the upper hand in the opening exchanges and should’ve gone 0-1 up three minutes in when Ciaran Diver had a great opportunity from close range. Full back, Matty Grant, had too much time on the ball on the right wing and crossed low into the box towards Rossiter. Rossiter tried to direct goalwards but failed and instead deflected the ball to the back post, where Diver picked up the loose ball and shot. New signing, Oli Black, defended well, preventing Diver from finding any space for his shot, which caused the striker to miss-hit his effort, allowing Larry Hendry to clear the ball behind for a corner. The following corner found the unmarked Cameron Eadie, who headed just over the bar from the front post.
Buffs’ first real chance of the game came when Jack Maccalman sent a long throw into The Burgh penalty box, which was won well by Ryan Wilson however, the forward’s header dipped just over the bar and out for a goal kick.
Murray MacIntosh was next to test the Johnstone Burgh defence when he received a pass from Bryan Boylan around 30 yards from goal. Murray controlled before setting himself for a shot and drilled a low effort which looked set to find the bottom left corner. Goalkeeper, Luke Scullion, who was outstanding on the day, got down brilliantly to his right side and managed to push the ball just wide of the post to keep the score level.
The best chance of the game so far fell Buffs’ way when The Burgh failed to deal with a dangerous Buffs corner. The ball was swung into the box and could only be half cleared by the Burgh defence, which gave Blair MacIntyre the chance to pick up the loose ball on the right wing. A great combination between Blair and Larry resulted in MacIntosh being allowed to cross the ball into the box. Once again, The Burgh couldn’t fully deal with the cross which allowed The Buffs to keep the pressure on as Boylan acrobatically sent the ball towards the back post for Ryan Wilson, who took a touch and hit a powerful effort at goal, which was excellently saved to the goalkeeper’s right.
Despite the Buffs’ period of dominance, they would be made to rue those missed chances when Blair Rossiter scored the opener for Johnstone Burgh around the 20 minute mark. Midfielder, Faulds sent the ball long up to Ciaran Diver, who laid a pass off to Rossiter. The forward didn’t even need to take a touch as he hammered the ball straight into the top left corner from the edge of the box, giving Glen Cameron no chance of making a save.
Buffs’ best chance of the match came the way of Jack McMahon, who should’ve equalised just 5 minutes after The Burgh took the lead. Blair MacIntyre won the ball in midfield before passing to MacIntosh on his right. Murray drove forward before unleashing an effort towards the Burgh goal. Murray’s strike proved too difficult to catch for Scullion, who could only parry the ball straight back into the path of Jack McMahon. With the goal at his mercy, Jack just couldn’t get his feet sorted and failed to get a shot away, which allowed 2 Burgh defenders to recover and make a challenge to send the ball out for a corner.
It was an impressive first half from The Buffs, who were fairly dominant against a strong Burgh side, but despite this, went into the interval a goal down after a moment of magic from Blair Rossiter.
Johnstone Burgh were quick out of the blocks in the second half and seemed to catch The Buffs sleeping early on when Lawrence Hendry lost out in a battle with Ciaran Diver, which allowed Diver to run through on goal. Glen Cameron was quick off his line and got out well to close the angle for Diver, which enabled the goalkeeper to get down well and make a good save.
The Burgh striker would have another good chance soon after when he once again beat Larry in a tussle before sweetly volleying the ball goalwards. Diver caught the ball flush and forced Cameron to make a great diving save as he pushed the ball over the bar.
Burgh would extend their lead and take a firm grip on the game when winger Aaron Mason played a great ball into the box for Diver. Mason skipped past Oli Black on the left wing before sending a low cross across the face of the goal, which Ciaran Diver tapped into the empty net with ease.
Buffs’ final chance and only big chance of the second half came late on when substitute, Dylan Duncan, dribbled past Grant on the left-hand side and carried the ball forward down the line prior to driving a low cross into the danger area. Fellow substitute, Olly Smith, got on the end of the cross and didn’t do much wrong with his effort, but once again, it was Luke Scullion in the Burgh goal who popped up to make another great save and deny The Buffs to salvage his deserved clean sheet.
Despite the result, there were some very positive signs there for Kevin Kelly’s side, who will feel they should’ve walked away from the game with at least a point against a side who are projected by many as clear league favourites. The Buffs don’t have to wait long to put the opening day defeat right, as they travel to New Western Park to face Renfrew on Wednesday night.
