It was inspired quadruple substitution early in the second half that breathed fresh life into Newburgh’s side and swung the game back into the visitors favour to send the points back up the A92 to East Shore Park.
On a sweltering evening in front of a impressive crowd at Venters Park, many newcomers to see League newboys Cowdenbeath’s venture into the East of Scotland set up, which also contained no less than 4 former Burgh players in their matchday squad.
It was the away team that started brightest as Willie Laing had the games first chance in the 5th minute when up for a set piece, his turn and shot was blocked at close range.
Newburgh did take the lead, however, a minute later after Cowdenbeath lost possession on the half way line with a number of poor passes that ended up being intercepted by Mackenzie Williamson who powered on towards goal before slotting past ex-Burgh David Chalmers’ near post.
Williamson had another chance from a free kick in the 8th minute but his low effort was held by Chalmers.
At the other end, the home side started getting a foothold on the game and McInnes beat the offside trap to have an effort blocked by the legs of keeper Scott Kyles in the 16th minute, whilst another ex-Burgh Johnny Malcolm saw his shot from distance not trouble the target on 24 minutes.
Kyles had to recover quickly in the 27th minute to grab the low cross at the second attempt, whilst on 33 minutes Andrew McCallion was put through on goal but Chalmers was there at the ball fractionally before the Newburgh top scorer.
Williamson had another effort on 36 minutes from a Calum Black free kick into the box but his header under pressure couldn’t quite find the target.
It was an entertaining game for the neutral as Cowdenbeath were looking the stronger and they pulled level in the 40th minute when Lawrie’s free kick from the edge of the area curled around the wall before hitting both posts and being poked him by Spence for 1-1.
The game was looking like it could go either way but the home side were looking the more dominant and they started the second period strongly as Kyles did well to stretch and push a Lawrie effort away with the loose ball falling to Lewis Black who somehow fired against the bar.
Whilst that was a let off, Central made amends seconds later when Ward ran onto a ball in the box. His low shot seemed to take a bobble or deflection which made it hard for Kyles and the ball fell back to Ward who knocked home to give the hosts the lead.
The game was threatening to get out of Burgh’s reach when Spence had two efforts in the space of five minutes of taking the lead with one effort curling just wide of the far post and another saved by Kyles.
With the heat taking its toll on the teams, manager Andy Healy decided to make those four changes with Kian Beattie, Blair Campbell, Rhys Sneddon and Finn Bannerman taking the field.
The move was vindicated within 6 minutes as Calum Leadbeatter’s long ball forward was flicked on by Williamson to Campbell who held off his man and smartly turning and firing home from the edge of the area to level the scores.
The fresh legs were lifting the Burgh side and Andrew McCallion was put through and forced Chalmers into a good save at the near post in the 61st minute before testing the keeper’s palms with another change moments later.
2-1 down quickly turned to 3-2 up for Newburgh in the 64th minute when Williamson’s cross from the left was picked up by Bannerman who played a short ball back to Cammy Taylor who floated a ball onto the head of McCallion to power home past Chalmers.
Full credit to Cowdenbeath who came back at Burgh with another couple of attempts that Kyles was equal to before the visitors broke and Bannerman ran on to send a low shot agonisingly past the far post on 68th minutes.
Leadbeatter than attempted a long range effort which appeared to catch everybody off guard but, thankfully for Chalmers, just wide of the target.
‘Super Sub’ Campbell was on target again in the 74th minute for his second Newburgh goal after good work on the left hand side of the area between Williamson and Andy McCallion saw a ball played to the right hand side for Bannerman to turn and shoot, which was blocked and the ball felt back to the left hand side of the area to Campbell who turned his man to rifle home into the roof of the far corner of the net to make it 4-2 to Burgh.
On 76 minutes it was Sneddon’s turn to attempt the spectacular as he ran onto a cleared ball out of the Cowdenbeath box to rifle a shot from distance that was inches past the post.
The home side were still pushing for a way back into the game with Black again going close before Spence netted his second of the game in the 80th minute to set up a nervy and tense finish.
With the light dwindling, thankfully goal attempts in the remaining minutes were limited. In the 94th minute Burgh won a free kick on the area. Whilst wanting to hold onto their lead in what was probably the last kick of the game, saw the unusual sight of an attacking free kick with most of the attacking team sticking back in their own half to protect any potential break away!
Andy McCallion stepped up to do the honours and very nearly netted his second of the game as his effort cannoned off the post with Chalmers scrambling to reach.
It was a very entertaining game for the neutral with both sides, in all honesty, having a reasonable argument for at least a point from a match with plenty of goalmouth opportunities.
Thankfully for Healy’s men, it was Burgh who left Venters Park with all three points with a display which owed much to the combative of Willie Laing and his defensive team mates and keeper for registering Burgh’s fourth win on the trot in all competitions – and their 4th win out of 5 in the 2025/26 campaign.
Whilst there was a reasonable call for any of the back 5 to pick up Man of the Match, Cammy Taylor picked up the honours for a versatile role and setting up McCallion’s header.
