BURGH DESTROY FORTH WITH FOUR

Published 16 Sep 2009 15:06

JOHNSTONE BURGH looked a team transformed as they twice battled back to beat Forth Wanderers at Keanie Park on Saturday.

The Burgh were steadfast in defence and cohesive in attack and were able to carve open the visitors' back line on a number of occasions.

New signings Neil Dinen and Martin McIntyre were extremely impressive on their debuts as they added some much needed width to the Burgh's industrious approach play.

Both players were aggressive in the assault on the Wanderers' full backs and the Burgh's frontline will continue to reap the benefits from that type of consistent service from the wings.

Assistant manager Eddie McKim took charge of Saturday's game and was pleased with his side.

He said: "The pleasing thing is that we scored four goals and got the three points but also we are creating a lot of chances and that's so important in football.

"Neil Dinen is actually a left back and Martin McIntyre is really more of a central midfielder but what both of them do have is pace and that gets them up and down the flanks and they both put good deliveries into the box. Damage is done in the box and the quicker you get the ball in there, the better chance you have of scoring goals and everytime they put the ball into the box we looked like we were going to score.

"We were unlucky at the first goal, we were looking for a foul and they played on. But credit to the lads, we battled back when at times before, we might have buckled.

"Even when we went down again, the boys battled away. I think they had a kind of self-belief because we always want them to believe they are better than the guys they're playing against.

"We're still just taking it one game at a time starting with Greenock away on Saturday and with the way we're playing right now, we won't be fearing anyone."

The Burgh came flying out the traps early when Colin Smith slid his strike partner Chris Fitzpatrick through on goal but his shot was well saved from the Forth keeper. Dinen came close after a neat flick on from Gordon Chalmers before the midfielder headed wide from Fitzpatrick's cross.

Despite their dominance, the Burgh found themselves behind. The team stopped after the referee failed to spot a foul on Stephen McGarrigle up field allowing Wanderers to race up the park and score.

Smith came close for the Burgh when he turned a shot onto the crossbar before grabbing the equaliser on the stroke of half time.

Ross Perrie was fouled in the box and Smith stepped up to convert with emphatic style.

Burgh pressed again in the second half and Dinen provided the spark with a darting run down the left flank before cutting the ball back to McIntyre, who fired home with a neat finish.

Forth Wanderers then equalised with 15 minutes to go when substitute Docherty turned Gordon Murphy's cross-come-shot past Fraser Wilson in goal but the Burgh would not lie down and went on the attack again.

The tenacious Fitzpatrick got his reward for a fine afternoon's graft headed over the despairing Forth keeper after a great cross from Chalmers.

And substitute Hamilton put the icing on the

cake when he rifled home the Burgh's fourth to round off an impressive performance from the Keanie park side.

Next up the Burgh travel to the Ravenscraig Stadium to face Greenock on Saturday.

BURGH: Wilson, McGarrigle, Donaghy, Stuart, Brolly (Hamilton 83), Perrie (Flannery 80), McIntyre, Chalmers, Smith (Paterson 88), Fitzpatrick, Dinen. SUBS: Cuddihy, Flannery, Lennon, Sherry, Peacock.

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This article appeared in The Gazette 16 Sep 09

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