It was a 4th vs 3rd placed encounter at East Shore Park as Edinburgh United arrived in town for a match that promised an entertaining game.
That is exactly what the neutral was treated to, particularly with an end-to-end opening 45 minutes as the two sides exchanged goals like kids swapping football stickers in the playground on a Monday morning.
The action was quick to get underway as in only the 2nd minute an awkward bounce hit Cammy Newsome’s arm and the referee pointed to the spot. Roue converted the penalty beyond the outstretched arm of Scott Kyles.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Owen McNally slid a ball between two defenders for Andrew McCallion to beat a third tackle and fire a shot past the advancing keeper. The ball cannoned off the post but into the path of skipper Mackenzie Williamson who knocked home from close range.
United then went back on the attack in the 11th minute and a deep cross from the right caused unnecessary panic in the Burgh defence with the ball rebounding off Brooklyn Mair and against a helpless Cammy Taylor at close range and wrong footing Kyles to make it 2-1.
Play was switching end to end and Ronnie Martin was next to go close with a curling direct free kick that just cleared the crossbar.
Scores were soon to be level again with the fourth goal of the game in the 21st minute when Williamson’s low ball into the box was poorly cleared by the Edinburgh defence and returned to the Burgh no.11 before he was sent flying to the ground by the swinging boot of Hunter. McCallion made no mistake by sending the keeper the wrong way from the spot.
That goal saw Burgh have their best period of the game as both Williamson and Taylor had headers just off target, and then in the 30th minute a good turn and low shot by McCallion was held by Barlas. The game continued to swing from end to end in a gripping contest and Roue fired over from a good move from United in the 31st minute.
The home side took the lead for the first time in the 33rd minute as Martin’s floating free kick found Taylor to nod home at the right end for his 2nd goal of the season.
Williamson then hit a rocket of a low first-time shot from distance just wide, before being fouled on the edge of the era in the 39th minute and taking a quick free kick that saw Finn Bannerman power a header just wide of target.
Bannerman was looking lively and he nearly got his name of the scoresheet a moment later when Williamson flicked a ball over the head of the United defence for the young striker to run on and loft his effort over the advancing Barlas but just over the bar on 40 minutes.
The scoring wasn’t quite over, though, as Roue delicately curled an effort past Kyles from the edge of the area in the 41st minute with a lovely finish to make it 3-3. Then on the stroke of half time the visitors had two more good chances with a powerful header from Morris tipped over by Kyles from the back post, and a rasping McKnight effort curling just away from goal.
The second half couldn’t quite match the first in the form of a see-saw game as United took control with a clinical spell with put the game out of reach.
Edinburgh regained the lead in the 48th minute with a neat one-two move that found Teviotdale with the chance to fire beyond Kyles.
The game seemed to be out of reach in a three minute spell midway through the half with the help of two mistakes in the Burgh defence which the visitors ruthlessly punished.
On 62 minutes a long ball forward cleared the Burgh defence and saw Kyles race from goal but hoping there was enough weight on the through ball to make it into his area but with the wind slightly held up and Teviotdale made Burgh pay for their hesitancy by nipping in to round the keeper and score.
Another long ball forward in the 64th minute saw Willie Laing’s flick header back towards goal fall a little too short for Kyles and Woods rushed through to loop past the stranded keeper for 6-3.
Those goals seemed to knock the stuffing out of the home side for a bit and Teviotdale went close with a delicate header in the 66th minute, and Kyles was called into action a couple of moments later.
Burgh had a good chance to pull one back on 69 minutes when a long throw into the box was flicked on by Bannerman into the path of Newsome at the back post who could only fire from close range with the keeper flying out to block.
Another good chance for Burgh came on 76th minute when they had the ball in the net from Taylor heading in at the back post from a deep cross from Ryan Daly but it was ruled out by a push from Calum Black in going for the same cross.
On 82 minutes Laing had a powerful shot from distance deflected off a defender and into the arms of the keeper as Burgh went down to ten men after sub Sneddon’s introduction into the game lasted just 62 seconds before he came off worse in a challenge and had to be helped off.
Mackie then made it 7-3 in the 84th minute with a touch and then powerful drive past Kyles after a ball from the right.
Burgh were still trying, though, and Kieran Twaddell twisted and turned well before seeing his shot blocked by a desperate challenge.
Goal number 11 of the afternoon came in the 91st minute when a long ball from Black saw McCallion, defender and keeper go for the ball. Defender and keeper got in each other’s way and the defender only flicked the ball backwards and McCallion was quickest in to flick home under pressure to complete the scoring.
It was a highly entertaining game, particularly in the first half, which was an enthralling contest for the neutral. But a very good United side showed their strength in the second half to make Burgh pay with the best performance we’ve seen against us this season so far.
Man of the Match: Finn Bannerman – ran his socks off and seemed to be in and around everything good Burgh did going forward with a tremendous work rate and attitude.
