Bens made it five out of five at home in the League with a hard fought victory over St Rochs. The result means Bens now occupy third spot in the table with 15 points and their games in hand put table-toppers Shettleston, who surprisingly lost at home to Forth, within their sights.
St Rochs had Andy Sinclair in their line-up and the ex Bens player came closest for the visitors in the first half when his 37th minute shot flew narrowly past the upright.
In an uneventful first half John Tinney came closest for Bens on 24 minutes with a 20 yard lob which the keeper did well to palm to the side.
Bens came out fired up for the second half and took the lead within minutes. Sinclair and O'Neill tangled on the halfway line and the Bens' centre got the better of his old teammate, playing in Kinnaird on the right wing. The young fullback reached the byline and cut an inviting ball back into the box where Ally Mackenzie struck a shot onto
Tony O'Neill who happily turned it into the net.
The home defence had to be resolute as St Rochs responded to the early reverse and Alan Thomson covered well to head off the goalline on 55 minutes with the follow-up shot rattling off the crossbar. The Bens' defence could do little to stop the Candy Rock striker on 63 minutes when he took a diagonal ball well, dragging it across Thomson but fortunately for the home side shot wide from a good angle.
Waddell couldn't keep his volley down when a McMillan throw found him at the back post on 65 minutes and ten minutes later Mackenzie skyed his shot after excellent work by Kinnaird on the right touchline found him inside the box.
Stevie Waddell nearly wrapped it all up on 80 minutes when his twisting and turning earned a free-kick at the side of the penalty area- from the incoming cross he back-heeled it inches beyond the far post.
St Rochs fired a 25 yard free-kick about a foot over the bar but couldn't muster enough to deny the Bens their 100% league record at Tinto.
They've still to break their duck away from home and next week's fuxture against bottom side Newmains, who've yet to take a point, seems the ideal opportunity.
BENBURB: Ghattas, Kinnaird, McMillan, Imrie, Thomson, Crossey, Mackenzie, McGlinchey, O'Neill, Waddell, Tinney.
