JOHNSTONE Burgh manager Jamie McKim believes his side let themselves down after a 3-0 defeat at St Roch’s on Saturday.

The Keanie Park outfit were up against it early on after finding themselves 2-0 down after just 12 minutes through goals from Pat Moy and Anthony Dempsey.

John Henderson made it three before the break, and in the second half there was perhaps some early optimism for Burgh when home goalkeeper John Stark was sent off – but McKim’s troops failed to take advantage.

The Burgh boss admits the occasion may have got to his young squad at the daunting James McGrory Park – but hopes it is one which they can learn from.

Speaking to Gazette Sport, he said: “We weren’t at it at all. We didn’t match the intensity or the work rate that St Roch’s came at us with, and the worst thing for me is that we knew that’s what we were going to be coming up against.

“We never followed the game plan properly and that resulted in a couple of cheap goals. 

“When you go one down you know you need to open up a bit more and try and chase the game so you leave gaps.

“We started the second-half well and their goalkeeper got sent off but then we stopped playing. We didn’t get anywhere near enough efforts or pressure on their goal.

“I find it hard to criticise players, because we are a very young side, and going to places like St Roch’s – it’s a very tight pitch and an intimidating place to go.

“It’s a different kind of atmosphere but I believe we’re good enough to go and play in those games and compete and battle. 

“You need to overcome the mental side and be ready for the battle, and if you can do that then you get the opportunity to play, but we didn’t get to that stage.

“We let ourselves down. It’s another experience for us to learn from.”

Burgh host Cumbernauld United this weekend, with both teams eager to bounce back after losses last time out - the Guy’s Meadow side having lost 2-1 at home to Thorniewood on Saturday - and McKim is glad to have another game coming around so quickly.

He added: “We just want to get back on the pitch quickly and try and rectify the result from the weekend. 

“We’ll be hard at it at training this week.”

Kick-off at Keanie Park on Saturday is at 2pm.