Johnstone Burgh manager Jamie McKim was delighted with the impact of his substitutes as his side came from behind to win at Cambuslang Rangers on Saturday.
Despite taking the lead through Ally Small, who continued his run of form after signing on loan for the club with his third goal in as many games, the hosts turned things around and took a 2-1 lead into the second-half.
It wasn’t until the final quarter of an hour that the Keanie Park side regained control of the game with Jojo Gillespie equalising before Kieran Brophy, Hamish McKinlay and Dale Simeon completed the comeback.
Gillespie, McKinlay and Simeon were all introduced from the bench at Somervell Park and went to have positive impacts, with boss McKim relieved to get over the line at a difficult place to go.
Speaking to Gazette Sport, he said: “We changed the shape and the style slightly on Saturday because of what we were going up against and to come away with five goals and three points away from home was great.
“The conditions meant it was never going to be straightforward when we got there but I wasn’t expecting it to be.
“The pitch wasn’t great and it was going to be difficult for us to go and implement the way we play but we know that kind of test is going to come throughout the season and we handed it really well.
“When it got to 60/70 minutes we had a lot of quality to come from the bench and that helped us.
“I’ve got major complaints about the goals we conceded but just to come away from a tough venue with three points then I’m happy.”
It’s cup duty for Burgh this weekend with Midlands Football League side Dundee East Craigie set to make the journey to Johnstone in the first round of Scottish Junior Cup.
It may have been a step into the unknown for some, but not for McKim and his coaching staff who have done their homework on their opposition.
He explained: “We went to watch them last week against Dundee Harp and they are a good side going forward.
“They have a lot of pace up front and in the wide areas and will cause us problems if we’re not organised and not on it.
“Everybody expects us to go and win every game and not give the opposition any second thoughts but that’s not how football works and we’ll need to be at our best to make sure we go through.”
Kick-off at Keanie Park on Saturday is at 2pm.
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