Match: Johnstone Burgh v Arthurlie
Date: 20/04/2024
Venue: Keanie Park, Johnstone
Competition: Junior Cup Semi Final (2nd Leg)
Entry Fee: £10
Travel: £2.95
Miles completed today: 18
Total miles remaining: 28310
It’s always been my intention to visit grounds at their best. With the size of my project, it’s not always straightforward but I simply couldn’t resist this one. Johnstone Burgh have been one of the most talked about non league sides in the country after significant investment was poured into the club and some big names followed. They brought in two players with 101 caps between them. I’m absolutely certain that there aren’t 101 caps between every other non league side in the country. Graham Dorrans signed and Kyle Lafferty followed along with SPFL star Jason Naismith and some shrewd non league buys such as Darren Christie and Del Esplin. This is a seriously impressive side.
This is the semi final of the Junior Cup and it’s nicely poised after a 2-2 draw in the first leg. The winner will progress to the final and Johnstone Burgh have won it twice before. In 1964 & 1968, the club lifted the most coveted trophy in non league football and last reached the final in 2000. Their league season has been hit and miss, but lifting the cup would be an enormous boost. The winner will face Darvel in the final.
Preview
There’s a division between the sides, but I doubt there will be much between them. In the league, Arthurlie are second bottom of the Premier League and it’s been a tough campaign. Johnstone are 9th in the division below but have plenty games in hand and aren’t yet out of the title race – all to play for!
I’ve looked as far back as 2014, and in the 5 previous meetings between the sides Johnstone haven’t beaten Arthurlie.
Road to the Semi’s
Johnstone Burgh
R1 – 3-0 v East Craigie
R2 – 3-0 v Dundee North End
R3 – 3-1 v Irvine Meadow
R4 – 2-2 (4-3 pens) v Downfield
QF – 3-3 (4-1 pens) v St Cadoc’s
SF 1st Leg – 2-2 v Arthurlie
Arthurlie
R1 – 4-0 v Kilsyth Rangers
R2 – 6-1 v Forfar United
R3 – 3-3 (4-3 pens) v Rutherglen Glencairn
R4 – 3-2 v Benburb
QF – 2-1 v Bellshill Athletic
SF 1st Leg – 2-2 v Johnstone Burgh
The Ground
This isn’t my first visit to Keanie Park, I did a pre season trip here and it’s a terrific wee ground. I arrived about 25 before kick off and as you walk up the hill towards the ground, I noticed the size of the queue to get in. No complaints, it’s great to see it so busy. Kick off was even delayed by 15 minutes so all the punters could get in. I love the two legged system for the semi final as it gives both clubs the opportunity to have their big occasion and make a few quid, even if the Junior association are taking 60% of the gate…
Keane Park really rose to the occasion, their bar was packed and everyone well catered for with a burger and ice cream van on site. I headed into the clubs wee kiosk and picked up a pie & Irn-Bru for £3 which is very reasonable.
An outdoor gazebo sold scarves and signed shirts, it was class. But best of all, the place was rammed and with the numerous cans of Tennents consumed, it looked like a sight from T in the Park.
My favourite part of the ground is the ‘shed’. This must be as old as the ground itself and was packed with the youngsters who I can’t praise enough. The amount of noise that came from their section was unrivalled for this level. Flags, colour, a little pyro and noise – keep it up lads.
There were plenty of stewards, no segregation, everyone drinking and behaving themselves – football fans eh?
Absolute 10/10 this is what football is all about.
The Game
I’m normally fairly good at prediction how games will go and I expected a fast, frantic anxiety filled game with meaty challenged flying in left right and centre.
I couldn’t have been more wrong! The game was played at a slower tempo and both teams tried to take the sting out of it. That’s not a put down on the game, that’s how the teams wanted to play and this was still an exciting encounter.
A Burgh corner was met by Kieran Brophy who couldn’t miss from close range to put the Burgh 1-0 up. There wasn’t much in the game until the goal, and for the next 10 minutes Johnstone were well on top. It was crucial Arthurlie didn’t concede during this period or I felt the game would pass by them. Conor Bulger picked the ball up on the right hand side and dribbled inwards. The longer he ran with the ball the more my internal monologue was shouting PASS, PASS, PASS but he knew best and after beating 3 men he found enough space to fire the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box – an unbelievable goal!
I felt like the first half flew by and it was level at the break, probably fair on reflection.
Arthurlie found themselves in behind early in the second half and Dylan McGuigan‘s controlled effort found the bottom corner. Both teams had spells on top and Johnstone had one that came back off the bar but there weren’t many clear cut chances. Even in the last 5 minutes where Johnstone are expected to throw the kitchen sink at Arthurlie, it was still even between the two sides. A couple of very good goals separated the sides.
Full time: Johnstone Burgh 1-2 Arthurlie
Summary
I know I’m here for a Johnstone Burgh perspective but as a neutral it’s important to recognise the significance of this result for Arthurlie and I’d like to congratulate them. A great result in what’s been a tough season.
For Johnstone, they’ll be devastated but there’s a bigger picture to look at. If the investment is a long term thing (and it looks as though it might be) then this is the start and I expect big things to come from the club whether it be this season in the league or the next couple – one step at a time.
This was Keanie Park at it’s absolute best and I’m glad I made it there to witness it.
Another part I thought was brilliant is the amount of Celtic & even more impressively, Aberdeen shirts that were in the crowd. I’ve been banging on for 3 years about fans of big clubs getting along to non league football and the fans that got from Hampden to Keanie Park in time for kick off was commendable.
I’m sorry it wasn’t to be for the Burgh, but the occasion they put on will last long in the memories of those who attended and for that, well done!
GroundhopScot 