Battling Burgh can still stay up

Graeme Bulloch - Graeme Bulloch • Published 29 Apr 2009 12:30

Johnstone Burgh 1 Rutherglen Gelncairn 3

JOHNSTONE Burgh manager George Walker insists his side will stay up if they keep battling like they did on Saturday.

Burgh crashed to their second defeat in a week, this time to Rutherglen Glencairn after a poor first half display.

But the Keanie Park outfit showed tremendous spirit after the break and Walker is now more confident in his battle to beat the drop.

The Burgh boss said: 'We didn"t create a great deal today and didn"t get the ball in the box quick enough.

'But I felt that we should have got something out of the game today, on our second half performance.

'When you see a championship winning side take the ball into the corners for the last five minutes it says a lot for our performance.

'We are still fighting against relegation and we just need to get on with it, but if we perform like that then we will stay up.'

Burgh were hoping to bounce back after a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Maryhill last week.

Despite an improved second half display, Walker"s men went down 2-1 after failing to turn up for most of the first half.

Poor distribution and loose marking allowed Rutherglen the opportunity to take an early lead, which Tony Fraser took in his stride.

The Glen"s Ryan McArdle broke down the right hand side and played the ball across the face of goal.

The Johnstone back four were caught ball watching which allowed Fraser in at the back post and the Glen"s striker tapped the ball into the net on the 10 minute mark.

Rutherglen"s three man attack caused all sorts of difficulties for Burgh throughout the first half, namely Colin Boylan who was a constant threat to the Burgh goal.

And on 24 minutes Burgh were 2-0 down.Boylan played a short corner to Chris Hughes, who fired the ball towards goal, deflecting off Fraser and past Burgh keeper Fraser Wilson.

Burgh"s best chance of the half fell to Gordon Chalmers. A poorly cleared ball dropped to him at the edge of the box, but his rasping shot was tipped round the post.

Burgh were lucky to go in at half-time only two down as McArdle glanced a shot inches past the post.

The home side came out of the blocks flying in the second half after a rejuvenating team talk and a tactical shuffle from gaffer Walker.

And three minutes in, Burgh were back in the match.

Michael Ruthorford"s darting run down the left midfield saw him pass two players before floating a beautiful cross into the back post where Craig Marr popped up to nod home.

With strikers Marr and Kevin Adam receiving more support from midfield, Burgh looked to capitalise on the early second half pressure.

Ross Harvey saw his bursting run forward cut short when he was brought down at the edge of the area.

The resulting free-kick clipped the top of the wall and the keeper collected comfortably.

Adam had a great chance to level the score on 61 minutes when William Stuart crossed in from left midfield but his shot spun off his boot and went wide.

Burgh: Fraser Wilson, McGarrigle, Ross, Cuddin, Lennon, Stuart, Harvey, Chalmers, Adam (Smith), Marr (Sherry), Ruthurford. Subs not used: McGready, McIlvenny, Iain Wilson.

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This article appeared in The Gazette 29 Apr 09

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