Burgh’s Alex Jack Cup hopes ended with a convincing first half display from Perth neighbours Kinnoull at Tulloch Park.
It was the visitors, however, that got off to the brighter start with Kian Beattie forcing ‘Noull keeper Townsley to push a shot over the bar in the opening minute.
That optimism quickly evaporated as the home side took the lead in the 10th minute when Davies cut back found Cowan with too much space centrally in the area and he fired a low shot beyond Scott Kyles.
In the 17th minute Ronnie Martin’s free kick caused a moment of panic in the home defence before Townsley recovered to pounce at the ball at the second attempt before Andrew McCallion could poke home.
Matters took a turn for the worse in the 19th minute as Kyle Tracey was robbed off possession midway in the Burgh half and Davies sent an excellent looping shot over Kyles and into the net from outside the area for 2-0.
Newburgh were still trying to get back into the game and two quick efforts within a minute from McCallion and then Ryan Daly tested Townsley but the keeper was equal to both on 23 minutes.
In the 28th minute Daly was put through on goal and his shot was pushed away by Townsley before Owen McCallion’s follow up was blocked by the body of a defender for a corner.
Goal number three came on the half-hour mark as Ragan beat his man on the right flank and cut back a ball to find Cowan in acrews of space at the back post to slam home his second of the afternoon.
Daly was looking the bright spark in the Burgh line up as he ran and weaved his way around the home defence and he had a low effort wide of the far post in the 32nd minute.
Five minutes before the break Burgh decided to try and alter the course of the game with a double substitution. Unfortunately it didn’t yield the impact hoped as Kinnoull extended their lead moments later as Davies cross from the left was headed goalwards by Ragan and poked home from close range by Cowan to complete his hat-trick on 41 minutes.
Burgh were given a slither of hope on the stroke of half time after Daly’s shot was pushed away by Townsley before being picked up by Mackenzie Williamson. As he turned to prepare to shoot he was brought down and Andrew McCallion coolly placed the spot kick inside the post with literally the last kick of the half.
Any chances of an amazing comeback were dispelled within minutes of the restart, however, as Kinnoull went 5-1 ahead when Davies headed home his second of the game from close range.
Credit to Burgh, though, as they continued to press and in a three minute spell had three good chances. On 50 minutes Williamson’s free kick was deflected off the wall and behind.
On 52 minutes a long Daly throw in was punched away by Townsley as far as Martin who flicked forward to Finn Bannerman on the edge of the area and his turn and looped effort beat the keeper but hit the top of the cross bar.
The woodwork was struck again a moment later when Calum Black’s header forward put McCallion through on the left and his cross/shot deceived Townsley but couldn’t come down enough, instead clipping the top of the bar and behind again.
But at the other end Kinnoull had a gilt-edged chance to score when Ramage somehow managed to sky a cut back from about 8 yards out with the goal at his mercy.
On 64 minutes Burgh reduced the deficit to 5-2 when Calum Black’s corner close to goal beat everyone and ended up in the far corner of the net with Kieran Twaddell the closest to getting a final touch.
Again any lingering hopes of a comeback were finally banished in the 73rd minute as Wolecki beat Kyles to a ball across to six-yard box to flick home and make it 6-2.
Andy McCallion was determined to have a say in matters though as he stooped to head just wide in the 81st minute.
Then he beat the offside trap in the 82nd minute wide on the right and he cut inside to fire a shot just over the bar when, in hindsight, he may have been better laying off to Williamson who had raced to join him in attack.
Then in the 88th minute a long throw into the Kinnoull box causing a flurry of home defenders attempting to clear the danger with the ball bouncing up off the arm of Ramage for Burgh’s 2nd penalty.
McCallion stepped up in the hope of netting his 13th goal of the season, but it turned out to be unlucky 13 as his central shot was blocked by the diving legs of Townsley with then McCallion and Williamson seemingly getting in each other’s way chasing the follow up and the ball was cleared.
It was a clinical display by Kinnoull in taking what chances came their way and was an untypically “off” day for Burgh. Despite creating a number of good chances, it just wasn’t to be their day and full credit and best wishes to Kinnoull in the Semi-Final against Lochgelly Albert.
