League leaders Stoneyburn were the visitors to East Shore Park on Saturday looking to end their mini-blip of two defeats, whilst Burgh were buoyed by Cup success over Lochore last week and looking to return to winning League form.
The opening 45 minutes were a close encounter with both sides looking to make their impact on the game. The first chance fell to The Fulshie in the 10th minute as Sweeney got on the end of a Woods cross to stab an effort just wide of the post.
In the 15th minute the lively Ryan Daly looped over a high ball from the left towards the six-yard box and Finn Bannerman rose the highest under pressure but his header went narrowly past the post.
On 17 minutes play switched to the other end as keeper Scott Kyles had to be sharp to deny a flicked effort from close range after a cross from the left. Then in the 19th minute Donaldson shot just wide after getting to a loose ball following a low ball from the right.
The best chance of the game so far then fell Burgh’s way in the 21st minute after a driving run forward by Cammy Taylor from inside his own half before sliding a pass forward to Andy McCallion outside the area. The Burgh top scorer took one touch before launching a shot bound for the top corner that was superbly tipped over by Stoneyburn keeper Sneddon.
From the resultant corner the ball was returned to Ronnie Martin who fired a first-time effort destined for the corner of the net that cannoned off a defender and over the bar.
The home side were beginning to step up the pressure of the Stoneyburn goal and a cross from Daly in the 29th minute caught Sneddon by surprise as he backtracked to get his fingers to. The keeper managed to push it away but only onto the head of Bannerman who didn’t know a lot about it from a yard out and the ball looped just the other side of the post.
McCallion then nearly had a chance after a Fulshie clearance rebounded off Daly but the keeper came racing out of goal to hack clear from the toes of the Burgh stand-in skipper.
A trio of flicked headers from a long throw into the Stoneyburn area saw the ball fall to Bannerman in the 41st minute but with his view of goal blocked by a crowd of bodies, the young striker’s effort lofted over the bar.
It was the visitors who took the lead, however, in the 43rd minute after Brady cut in from the right and Donaldson took advantage of a fortuitous bounce to poke home at the third attempt past Kyles.
The leaders’ lead was short-lived, though, as Newburgh were on level terms before the break after McCallion’s high ball across the box was picked up by Daly on the left. The no.7 twisted and turned before sending over a pin-point cross for Blair Campbell to stoop and head home from about 6 yards out.
The second half continued how the first half ended with both sides going toe-to-toe looking for next goal as Daly saw a long-range effort over the bar before Stoneyburn’s Arthur won possession on the left and drove towards goal and unleashed a shot that cannoned off Kyles’ near post.
On 51 minutes Bannerman then flicked a ball through to set McCallion through on goal but Sneddon was out quickly to block his effort. Four minutes later Daly played a superb ball to then put through Bannerman but with Sneddon advancing, his effort bounced just wide of the far post.
The next goal eventually came, and in the home side’s favour, in the 61st minute as Kyle Tracey’s lofted ball forward bounced towards the Fulshie area and McCallion beat his man and delicately tried lifting over the keeper. The ball bounced back off the bar with McCallion already turning away in disappointment before Bannerman dived into to head home from close range and McCallion’s disappointment quickly turned to joy as Burgh were now ahead.
The Burgh midfield were really stepping up their game and breaking up any Stoneyburn pressure with Newsome and Beattie impressive. The pair combined to win possession and then play Bannerman through on goal on 64 minutes before a defender got back to block his shot.
McCallion’s luck was finally in as he netted his 9th goal of the season after Beattie’s throw in from the right was played back to him by Campbell and his cross saw the Burgh striker unmarked as he flicked his header into the far corner.
Burgh were playing some really good football and keeping the visitors away from the goal before setting up a couple of nervy moments as Stoneyburn netted an 88th minute consolation after a goalmouth scramble and an instinctive save by Kyles fell to Butler to poke home.
The game headed into a surprising amount of injury time as Butler again forced Kyles into action pushing away a powerful effort, whilst in the 96th minute McCallion nearly put the game to bed on the break but Sneddon saved his effort.
It was an impressive and hard-working performance from Burgh all over the park with the midfield outstanding in a game against a very good side.
Burgh are now back in Cup action next week with the South Challenge Cup encounter with Glasgow University, who themselves disposed of Tweedmouth 7-4 in Round 1 in Berwick. It promises to a good, but difficult game.
Man of the Match: Blair Campbell – capped a battling display with a goal.
