Maryhill v Johnstone Burgh (20th April 2016)

[hollerman]

                                                                       Central League – Division 1

 

                                                                       Wednesday 20^th April 2016

 

 

                                                               MARYHILL 1   JOHNSTONE BURGH 3

 

 

Maryhill’s unbeaten run of ten games came to an end, but they only have themselves to blame, after being given a lesson in clinical finishing by a Johnstone side that deserved to take the three points.

 

The game could not have started better for Maryhill when they took the lead after three minutes. William Wells’ cross from the left evaded several Burgh defenders and JUSTIN BEGG was on hand to force the ball over the line from close range. They kept up the pressure and looked likely to add to their lead, but squandered several good openings.Eddie Walton brought out a good save from visitors’ keeper Gavin Wallace, Ross Kearns, from a good position, delayed his shot too long and his effort was blocked, then further goalbound shots from Justin Begg and Paul Callander were also thwarted by some solid defending. The first Burgh threat of note came in the twentieth minute when Martin McIntyre wasted a good opportunity a few yards from goal, but the equaliser arrived a minute later when a well-placed volley from SHAUN FITZHARRIS  found the net. Maryhill hit back and two efforts from Andy Monaghan came close to restoring their lead, and for the visitors a powerful drive by McIntyre flew over the bar.

 

Half Time – Maryhill 1 Johnstone Burgh 1

 

A minute after the break, Hill missed another great chance when Andy Monaghan somehow managed to scoop the ball over an empty goal from a couple of yards out. For most of the second period the game followed a set pattern of the visitors defending in depth and relying on quick breaks. After a period of sustained Hill pressure, they capitalised on a poor pass back from the normally reliable Craig Ferguson. JASON HARDIE gratefully intercepted, and forced the ball past Grant Hay to put his side ahead for the first time. It was a lead that they rarely looked like losing despite long spells of Hill dominance. Their defence stood firm, and in another breakaway, they almost increased their lead eight minutes from the end, but this time Grant Hay managed to block Hardie’s shot. A poorly judged header from a good position from Kearns, a thundering free kick from Jamie Docherty and an Andy Banks header that was cleared off the line all failed to level the scores, and Maryhill’s day was summed up four minutes from the end when Andy Banks inexplicably jumped to handle the ball in midfield, and was shown a second yellow card then dismissed by referee Colin McDonald. Two minutes later, a great strike from JASON HARDIE sealed the game for Johnstone, showing how chances should be taken.

 

This defeat was a serious setback to Maryhill’s promotion aspirations, with too many players not playing to anything like their true form. Despite having the bulk of the play and chances, it was Johnstone’s tactics which prevailed, and Maryhill can have few complaints about the final outcome.

 

 

 

MARYHILL-: Hay, Beckley, Coyle (Orr 85), Walton, Banks, Callander, Kearns (Furay 57), Ferguson, Monaghan (Docherty 57), Begg, Wells.

 

SUBS (not used) – McLernon, L.Tolland.

 

SCORER – Begg (3)

 

YELLOW CARDS – Banks (25), Monaghan (43), Furay (70), Begg (89).

 

RED CARDS – Banks (86)

 

 

JOHNSTONE BURGH- Wallace (Wilson 40), Ion, Milne, Carson, Brown, McIntyre, Fitzpatrick, Fitzharris, Heron, Hardie, Dinnen (Perrie 58).

 

SUBS (not used) – Barr, Ross, Docherty

 

SCORERS – Fitzharris (21), Hardie (54, 88)

 

YELLOW CARD – Perrie (81)

 

RED CARDS – None

 

REFEREE – Colin McDonald

[ash]

What do you think.

Maryhill still in with a shout of promotion or to much to do.

[Hillonearth]

We certainly can't have many more slip-ups like Wednesday - poorest performance for a long while. The next week will go a long way to answering the question, as we've got four games at home against St Roch's, Dunipace, Renfrew and Rossvale, three of whom are the top five at the moment.

[hollerman]

Well, if they win all their remaining games, they will probably go up, but with three games a week and the top three still to come to Lochburn, it is, as  the current jargon would have it "a big ask".

[guvnor]

Poor result today for Maryhill started well against St Rochs but to be beaten all but ends our promotion hopes