Johnstone Burgh gaffer Jamie McKim praised his side’s defensive efforts against high-flying St Anthony’s as a solitary goal gave them a 1-0 home win at Keanie Park on Monday night.

Burgh’s 17-year-old Euan East gave Burgh all three points midway through the first half as his persistence and harrying of the visiting defence paid off.

The youngster capitalised on a mistake from James Ross in ‘The Ants’ back line about 12 yards out after the St Anthony’s player miscontrolled a cross.

He then nicked the ball away from the defender and went one on one with the keeper before he coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner beyond the hand of Gavin Wallace.

The hosts had the first chance of the game through left back Owen Connelly, who had a cross-come-shot palmed over at the back post by a retreating Wallace within the first 10 minutes.

 ‘The Ants’ had a live wire in Grant Kelly up front, whose hold-up play gave strike partner Mark Watt the chance to turn and get a curling effort away at the edge of the area, only for a Burgh defender to guide it away from the goal with a crucial touch.

Just on the hour mark, Stephen Fitzpatrick produced a fine piece of skill on the right hand side of the penalty box to flick the ball in the direction of the energetic East, who nearly got the crucial touch to knock it past Wallace while the keeper remained stuck in two minds.

But he didn’t connect correctly and it gave the St Anthony’s keeper the chance to gather the ball with an element of relief.

Burgh striker Stephen, and then Fitzpatrick, wasted a fine opportunity to double his side’s lead after firing high and wide of the target just after the hour mark.

He touched the ball down cutely, cheekily rolling it through the legs of two defenders at the edge of the area. But he couldn’t produce the finish to match his spectacular move.

Gaffer Jamie McKim spoke to the Gazette after full-time and said “I thought we defended extremely well. Most importantly, we limited their chances, which gave us a good opportunity to go forward and we took our chance and that’s what wins the game.

“In fairness, I thought we could get two or three more if we took all of our chances we could have been out of sight today.”

McKim also hailed East for showing his class by producing a performance beyond his years.

He added: “Euan’s performance today showed what he’s all about, he’s a very mature footballer for 17 years old and very talented.

“However, it wasn’t those attributes that got him his goal, it was his persistence and energy. He deserved that tonight.”