Jamie McKim heaped praise on his Johnstone Burgh side after they cruised into the fourth round of the Scottish Junior Cup with a comfortable 4-1 win away to Dufftown - their tenth successive win in all competitions.

After a four-hour bus journey up to Westburn Park, Burgh continued their excellent run of form with a comprehensive display against the North Region First Division side.

Stuart Fyfe opened the scoring with a stunning long-range effort 20 minutes in before Sam Esplin bundled it home from close range for Burgh’s second moments before the break.

Dufftown pulled one back 72 minutes in but McKim’s side restored their two-goal advantage straight from the restart with Jamie Sidebotham rifling it home from the edge of the area.

READ MORE: McKim promises Burgh won't let up as flawless start continues

Jason Hardie then rounded it off in the 89th minute with his 14th goal of the season as Burgh ensured their name was in the hat for the fourth round draw.

“I’m absolutely delighted with that,” McKim told Gazette Sport. “With the conditions up there, and after a really long journey, the boys have done really, really well.

“A four-hour bus journey after a 7.30am start is a big change to our normal match-day routine so to go up there and produce that kind of display was special - especially when you consider that the Dufftown players all enjoyed their normal preparations.

The Gazette: The Johnstone players continued their excellent form with emphatic cup victory (Photo: Kenneth McWilliam)The Johnstone players continued their excellent form with emphatic cup victory (Photo: Kenneth McWilliam)

“I’m really proud of the boys for the way they handled it all and carried themselves.

“We drilled into them before the match that the worst thing would be going all the way up there, losing and then being forced to make that long trip back having not got the win.

“That made them hungry to go out there and play the way they did. Not only that, they were desperate to get it won early on to be able to enjoy the experience in the cup.”

The win over Dufftown was Burgh’s tenth on the bounce in all competitions and McKim revealed their form hasn’t taken him by surprise in the slightest.

“I’m not saying I expected it at the start of the season but the players are definitely getting what they deserve with the amount of work they put in throughout pre-season and the amount of work they continue to put in during the midweek training sessions,” the gaffer added.

READ MORE: McKim says Burgh will be ready for return to league action

“I honestly couldn’t be any happier with the run we’re on and everyone at the club is buzzing about too, but, at the same time, our feet are firmly on the ground right now.

“Of course we all know how well we’re doing, but they all also know that we need to maintain it over the season as it’s only October.”
Burgh return to league business this Saturday now with Thorniewood the visitors at Keanie Park.

McKim added: “We’re raring to get back in the league now.

“Thorniewood are a team I thought would be right up there challenging so it will be a tough test. I hold them in really high esteem so there will not be any complacency from us whatsoever on Saturday.

“They’re a good, physical side but we’re full of confidence and will be well up for it too.”

Read all the latest from Gazette Sport