Battling Burgh Bow Out Of Cup

Newburgh’s reward for beating Pumpherston in Round 2 was a daunting trip to First Division promotion chasers Camelon. Whilst the result went to form, Burgh did their best to make life as difficult as possible with a hard-working display with a lot of positive performances.

The hosts took the lead in the 4th minute when a cross from Wylde on the left was met by the head of Dolan whose header looped high over the outstretched dive of keeper Jack Foster.

In the 7th minute Burgh got a free kick on the edge of the Camelon area and Ewan Coutts’ effort went wide of the target.

In the 16th minute Harris Mitchell was adjudged to have brought down Wylde in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. But Dolan couldn’t covert from the penalty as Foster dived to his right to save the kick and the danger was cleared. But moments later a shot from a short corner was deflected goalwards and brilliantly saved by Foster, but unfortunately the loose ball fell to Finlay who knocked home.

In the 20th minute a lay back from Owen McNally to Coutts saw the Burgh number 8 with a long range strike from 25 yards out curl just wide of the net with the keeper beaten. In the 32nd minute it was more heroics from Foster when a shot from Finlay was heavily deflected off Andrew Cameron and the keeper changed his feet quickly and flew across his goal to save.

In the 41st minute a Dolan header hit the underside of the bar and bounced down but somehow wasn’t converted from a yard out with two strikers and two defenders battling for the ball.

In the 51st minute Burgh were punished for losing possession midway in their own half and the ball was played across the box with Dolan stabbing home from 10 yards out off the post and in.

In the 55th minute Camelon made it 4-0 when a long ball beat the Burgh defence and Finlay beat Jowitt to run on and slot past Foster.

Full credit to Burgh as they still weren’t giving up and playing some near stuff and a good move saw McNally weave along with penalty area and saw his shot blocked. The ball fell loose to Ronan Hall who made space before playing a one-two with Kyle Tracey to fire a shot just wide of the post.

Foster was still in impressive form pulling off a couple more very good saves in the second half, but a run and cut inside from Wylde saw a low shot that the keeper could only parry and substitute Wilson was closest to poke home the loose ball.

As I said, whilst the result may have went as most would have predicted, but it was a notable performance from the visitors with keeper Foster and Hall both outstanding, and the rest of the team all performing together well and it was a positive and encouraging performance.

Best of luck and thanks to Camelon for their great hospitality and for the rest of the season. Burgh are back in action on Saturday with a visit of Edinburgh College to East Shore Park.

Committee Man of the Match: Jack Foster.