JOHNSTONE Burgh picked up their biggest away win of the season so far on Saturday – but boss Jamie McKim reckons they have played better in recent weeks without getting what they deserved.

A brace from Sam Esplin alongside strikes by Jojo Gillespie, Brian Connor and Fraser Lee secured a comfortable victory for the Keanie Park side against Bellshill Athletic.

Gillespie got the opener from the penalty spot after 24 minutes before Esplin tucked the ball into the net on the half-hour mark to give Burgh some breathing space.

In the second period, a free-kick was headed into the path of Connor and he fired his shot into the net to make it 3-0.

Esplin then scored the pick of the goals when he took a free-kick quickly and buried the ball into the bottom corner from 30 yards out, with development squad youngster Lee completing the scoring in added time.

The result moves Burgh just two points behind their opponents in Conference A and McKim now hopes his troops can go on a winning run after picking up their first league victory in four attempts.

He told Gazette Sport: “I don’t think it’s the best we’ve played over the last couple of weeks but it’s the most clinical we’ve been.

“We took our chances and it was a convincing win, so you’ve got to be happy with it.

“There’s no room for error now in terms of what we want to do in the league. What the players need to remember is that, although we have a lot of games left to pick up points, so do the other teams around us.

“Saturday needs to be the start of a winning run. We’ve shown over the last couple of years that we’ve got a good squad and good players but, this year, it has been hard to keep that consistency in team selection and results.”

Burgh welcome Kirkintilloch Rob Roy to Keanie Park this weekend in the fourth round of the Scottish Junior Cup, with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.

McKim admits it will be a tough match but he believes his team can spring a shock against their Premier Division opponents.

He said: “They are a good side but they’re not unbeatable. I watched them against Beith and they have very good individuals but there are areas we think we can exploit.”

Kick-off on Saturday is at 1.30pm, with kids able to attend for free.