Johnstone Burgh knocked Rutherglen Glencairn out of the cup for the second time this season to progress into the semi-final of the LSK West of Scotland Cup.

An early first half goal was enough for Burgh to see off Glencairn in a feisty affair, with over 20 fouls being awarded. Going into the game Rutherglen were the favourites having beaten Burgh twice in the league already this season, 6-1 at home and 4-1 away in the most recent fixture between the two West of Scotland 21s Premier League sides.

Despite this it was the home side that got off to the brighter start, with the first chance of the game falling their way in the 5th minute. Cammy Armstrong jinking past the Rutherglen defence to burst into the right-hand side of the box. He then unleashed a powerful near post drive, but it was well saved by Chris Truesdale.

Two minutes later, Rutherglen responded with their first chance of the match. A floated in free-kick found the head of Harry Mitchell who flicked it goalward, but it was well gathered by Jack Dunlop. Despite this chance Burgh continued to dominate proceedings and they took the lead in the 21st minute.  

Jack McDougal ventured forward from right back to pick up the ball on the right wing and powered forward. He then delivered a superb cross into the middle to his fellow full back, Paul O’Brien, who was arriving at the back post. The left back then tapped the ball into the back of the net past a stranded Truesdale to spark scenes of celebration on and off the pitch.

Rutherglen then immediately tried to respond eight minutes later when Mitchell found Michael Lone on the edge of the box, but his deflected shot was easily saved by Dunlop. Tempers then began to flare and an altercation between Rutherglen’s Tommy Lone and Burgh’s Armstrong caused both players to receive a yellow card. The game then continued in the same feisty fashion before the referee blew for half time, with Burgh leading 1-0.

Rutherglen kicked off the second half looking to bounce back from an unusually poor first half performance and nearly equalised almost immediately when, in the 46th minute, Aaron Gray held the ball up fantastically in the box and knocked it back to the onrushing Mitchell. The striker’s pop shot looked destined for the bottom left hand corner, only to be denied by the quick reflexes of Dunlop.

The away sides early domination soon paid off and they were awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute when Anton Phinn was bundled to the ground in the box. Up stepped right back Aldo Dunsmore to put his side back into the game but his effort was superbly saved by Dunlop, who pushed it to the side. The rebound was then followed in by Rutherglen, however Dunlop was aware yet again to pull off another excellent save and keep his side in the lead.  

The double save seemed to reinvigorate the home side who dug in to knock back wave after wave of Rutherglen attack. It took the away side until the 70th minute to create another chance of any note. Conor MacLauglin finding Phinn in the box, but the winger’s attempted chip went well over the bar.   

The last 15 minutes saw Rutherglen throw caution to the wind as they chased an equaliser which gave the opportunity for Burgh to counter them. This almost led to Burgh snatching a late goal to double their lead in the 92nd minute when Armstrong bent a shot towards the bottom left hand corner. However, Truesdale was well down to keep the score at 1-0 and that is how it ended with the referee soon blowing the full-time whistle after that chance.