Johnstone Burgh made life in the First Division look like a walk in the park after strolling to victory against Bonnyton Thistle in their opening league fixture.
Jamie McKim’s promoted team travelled to Kilmarnock to take on an experienced Thistle side that were competing in the top tier last season.
They made the step up look simple, with Brian Connor notching a clinical brace before ten minutes was on the clock to put the Keanie Park side in control.
After dominating the rest of the match, summer recruit Keiran Brophy finally added to the scoreline late on to ensure Burgh returned to Renfrewshire with all three points.
Boss McKim was impressed with how quickly his side got to grips with their opponents before taking control at the Synergy Arena.
He told Express Sport: “I was pleasantly surprised because throughout pre-season I thought we had not been starting games that well. To be two up after ten minutes, I was delighted.
“We don’t usually lose from that position and from then on it was more of a case of managing the game.
“To go away from home against a team that was in the Premier Division last season and put three past them unanswered was a perfect start.
“Connor took his two goals very well.
“He’s been in the Prem with Irvine Meadow, so we know he can score at this level.
“It was great for Brophy to hit the ground running as well with a goal.
“The new boys we’ve brought in have gelled with the squad really well and we couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season.”
Despite the emphatic nature of their opening day victory, McKim insists his side won’t be getting too far ahead of themselves as they adapt to their new division.
Next up for the Renfrewshire club is a first home clash of the season at Keanie Park, with Kilbirnie Ladeside the visitors on Saturday. McKim predicts every game will be a battle for Burgh with this year’s First Division table packed with established, well-funded clubs.
He said: “I don’t think that one win proves that we belong at this level. We proved last year that we belong at this level because we got promoted.
“It’s a brilliant start, but now we have to try and maintain the standards we’ve set and prove we deserve to stay here and push on even higher.
“The standard of teams at this level is an absolute joke. There are a lot of very strong, experienced sides with some pretty hefty budgets.
“Kilbirnie will be incredibly tough because they’ve got a big budget and a very experienced squad. There’ll be no easy games for us this season. Last season there were clubs we could go and expect to put a good few
past.
“That’s not the case anymore. But we’ve got great players in our squad and a great balance between defence and attack at the moment.
“Hopefully we’ll get a big crowd along to Keanie Park on Saturday and we can keep this early momentum going.”
