SHETTLE TEST BURGH'S METTLE

Published 9 Sep 2009 12:37

Shettleson 2 Johnstone Burgh 1

JOHNSTONE BURGH left Greenfield Park on Saturday wondering how they failed to take something from their game against Shettleston.

George Walker's side went into the break 1-0 up and the Burgh manager was puzzled with some of the refereeing decisions that might have cost his side a deserved share of the spoils.

Walker feels he side were due two penalties during the match and was left bemused at the decision to award Shettleston with a penalty of their own.

He said: "To be honest, I thought we should have had two penalties.

"The one in the first half, I felt was a stonewall penalty. And again in the second half the lad pulled our player down but the young ref just waved play on.

"Then he gave Shettleston a penalty which I thought was strange. Their player nutmegged one of our lads and then just ran into him and fell over.

"Although it was a young referee we had, I thought he did well throughout and he handled the game well. But he was a completely different referee in the second half.

"Seemingly, he was getting stick from the other dressing room at half time, but I don't really know what was said.

"Overall, though, I'm not too disappointed, considering. Some of our play was excellent and I thought we could have got something from the game but it's basic, individual errors that have cost us.

"They're one of the better sides we've played and while they had a lot of possession they didn't really hurt us.

"We'll take the result on the chin and move on, but at the end of the day we've played three away games and one home game and we have six points.

"We're just taking it one game at a time but if we keep winning our home games and try to get something from the others we'll be there or there abouts at the end of the season."

Forward Chris Fitzpatrick was on target for the Burgh in the first half as the visitors looked set to cause an upset.

Shettleston fought back and forged an equalizer early in the second half before adding another from the spot.

Burgh looked like getting back in front until the home side wrapped up the points, twenty minutes from time when a slack backpass from full-back Ian Ross was intercepted with sweeper John Cuddihy giving chase.

The Burgh sweeper got back to challenge the Shettleston forward but the young whistler, Craig Winning, awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, dismissing Cuddihy for a professional foul in the process.

The Town converted the resulting set piece, securing the points and concluding a hard-luck story for the Johnstone side.

Meanwhile, the Burgh have secured the signings of former Clydebank defender Martin McIntyre after his release from the Bankies in June. Burgh are in action this week against Forth Wanderers at Keanie Park. Kick-off is 2pm.

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This article appeared in The Gazette 09 Sep 09

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