Johnstone Burgh assistant boss David Hill hailed his team's young guns for bringing a run of four defeats to an end as they finished the season on a high with a 3-2 win over Blantyre Victoria.

Several of the club's development players have featured in the first team in recent weeks, after it became clear Burgh wouldn’t be able to secure promotion to the top flight.

Hill said he has been impressed by their enthusiasm and skill level.

He told Gazette Sport: “With the way the season has went and us knowing that we couldn’t get promoted, it has allowed us to bring the young guys in.

“They won their league quite convincingly and have a cup final coming up, so we know the quality that is there and they’ve come in seamlessly to the first team."

Kieran Brophy got the opener for Burgh in the opening quarter of Saturday's match at Blantyre but the home team equalised 20 minutes later.

Under-20s starlet Noah Young put Burgh back in front before half-time with a stunning strike from just inside his own half.

Vics scored from the spot early in the second period to make it 2-2 but Mark Donaldson popped up with the winning goal for the visitors with just a couple of minutes remaining.

Burgh missed out on a top-five finish on goal difference but Hill believes it can go down as a successful season overall.

He said: “The season was in danger of petering out after we knew we couldn’t get promoted but it’s testament to the boys that they managed to dig a result out.

“The goal difference has taken a wee bit of a hammering in the last few weeks and that’s what has denied us. One more point would have got us fifth place but, overall, we can’t really grumble.

“It’s the highest league we’ve played in for about 16 years, so we’ll regroup and go again after the summer."

Hill reckons the emergence of talented youngsters at Burgh provides cause for optimism.

“They’re not just there to make up the numbers, they're chipping in," he said.

“Everybody is used to the fact that Lee Kilbride has been our first team goalkeeper for three months now and he is also our under-20s goalkeeper.

“There won’t be many teams who are playing as many young guys as we have been. The majority of them have another year at under-20 level.

“They are getting the best of both worlds, with being successful at their own level and then dipping in and out of the first team.

"They are so grateful that they are getting a chance.”