Burgh returned to Cup action in a competition where it opens up the scope of the opposition to a wider area of teams. New opponents arrived in the form of Glasgow University who, on paper, appeared to be identical to their hosts riding high in the Third Division of the West of Scotland League with a near identical League record in 25/26.
Unfortunately for Burgh, there were a number of absentees on and off the field and had it been a League fixture, the club had applied for a free week. Being the Cup, this wasn’t possible and the remaining players did their best. Overall, they did that despite the eventual result.
The home side had the first chance of the game in the 2nd minute when Mackenzie Williamson’s cross was headed away and fell to Rhys Sneddon on the edge of the box. The full back’s rasping drive was heading goalbound before deflecting for a corner.
Glasgow were looking lively going forward and in the 11th minute Ferre burst into the area to fire a low shot across goal. Three minutes later Finn Bannerman couldn’t quite find the target after a smart lay off from Andy McCallion.
Burgh had a let off in the 18th minute as Williamson’s backpass was intercepted by Blake but thankfully Sean Martin was on hand to save well with his feet. Williamson nearly made amends moments later with a low shot that rolled just past the near post with keeper Paul covering the angles.
‘Uni’ took the lead in the 25th minute with a quick sweeping move from defence to attack which finished with a defence splitting ball to Blake in the box who kept his composure to slot past Martin.
Matters were too take a turn for the worse on 34 minutes when the visitors doubled their lead with a low ball into the area that evaded everyone except a Uni striker who rolled the ball past the sliding out Martin and Logan was on hand to apply the finishing touch past Sneddon and Kyle Tracey as they collided trying to save the day.
The mountain got a little steeper just before half time as Burgh were reduced to 10 men when a very wet pitch attributed to Brooklyn Mairs slipping in going for a challenge. The referee wasn’t impressed as ha pulled out the red card.
But the never-say-die attitude of this Newburgh side kicked in to life and they pulled a goal back deep into first half stoppage time as Sneddon’s free kick was floated into the box and headed home by Willie Laing for his second of the season.
The hosts started the second half in pursuit of that equaliser and Williamson forced Paul into an early save, whilst Bannerman headed just wide in the 49th minute.
Meanwhile Glasgow were still looking dangerous going forward and a clear move on the right saw Blake knock home from close range in the 51st minute to make it 3-1.
Burgh were still working hard to rescue the game and Bannerman had an effort just over the bar in the 61st minute before striking lucky two minutes later with a goal that will give the keeper sleepless nights. Following Wiliamson’s throw to the young forward, his low shot shouldn’t have given the Glasgow keeper any troubles but somehow it managed to squirm underneath him and into the net.
The numerical advantage, though, was starting to tell for Glasgow as they made their extra man count and Martin had to be sharp off his line on a number of occasions to save the Fifers.
The killer fourth goal came in the 76th minute when a cross from the right was initially headed back to where it came from but the return ball found Logan who jumped just ahead of Martin to nod home for 4-2.
It was a hearty Newburgh performance, especially after being down to 10 men for more than half the game, against a good and energetic Glasgow University who added their second EoS Third Division scalp after defeating Tweedmouth in Round 1.
Best wishes to all at Glasgow University in the next round and for the rest of the season.
Man of the Match: Sean Martin - came out well on a number of occasions to thwart danger and made some great saves.
