Disappointing Night At The Office

The Burgh started their home campaign with a visit of Lochgelly Albert to East Shore Park, with Newburgh wearing their new home kit, kindly sponsored by Blackadders.

The visitors had the better of the few early opportunities with Reilly having two chances within a minute of each other; firstly, a shot from distance that was comfortably held by Mark Robertson and another shot after being given too much space on the edge of the area and his shot rattled off the crossbar.

Full-back Harris Mitchell has Burgh’s first chance of note after a good move and his shot on the volley looped just wide of the far post. Mitchell also was involved in a good piece of play that ended up forcing a corner with a deflected effort in the 35th minute.

The visitors had a chance to go with at the break with the lead, but a low free kick from the left hand side flashed across goal and, thankfully the far post.

Lochgelly should have taken the lead at the start of the second period when Celentano missed a good chance by slicing over the bar from close range. Moments later, Jamie Gay had a chance for Burgh when his free kick flew just over the bar.

Andrew Reade went close with a flicked header in the 53rd minute from a ball from Gay but couldn’t quite get enough to severely trouble the Lochgelly keeper. Reilly had another powerful drive at goal parried away by Robertson.

In the 59th minute Kellar Harris had probably the best chance of the game for Burgh when he met Gay’s cross from the right with a deft header towards the far corner but keeper McGuff was equal to it with the visitor’s defence blocking the follow up from Reade and the next effort was off target.

The opening goal came in the 64th minute when Johnstone beat Mitchell for pace and then ran along the byline and unleashing a powerful shot from a tight angle beyond Robertson.

Kyle Fraser went close for Newburgh in the 72nd minute when a good ball from ‘Jives’ was laid off by Kellar Harris but Fraser’s effort went just over.

Celentano doubled Lochgelly’s lead on 73 minutes and it was going to be an uphill battle from there onwards. It didn’t really look on the cards and Celentano netted his second of the game deep into injury time to seal victory for the away team.