Battling Burgh Pick Up Peebles Point

The Burgh travelled down to Peebles to face an important game and to look to end a losing run of form.

There was only one change to the Newburgh line up from the previous game against league leaders Whitburn with Michael Perrie coming in to replace Hamid Eddouss, who moved to the bench.

The visitors started the game brightest but there were few clear-cut chances in the opening 20 minutes. Cai Macdonald flicked an opportunity wide from a corner in the 3rd minute, whilst in the 24th minute a long clearance by keeper Mark Robertson was met by Kellar Harris who was unable to get enough on it to divert it past Peebles keeper Hanratty to surely score.

Peebles first effort of note was a very close call and came in the 29th minute when MacLean fired against the bar from close range from a cut back that had appeared to have gone behind for a goal kick judging by the reaction of the Burgh defence.

The home side were forced into an early change on the half-hour after Mackay appeared to be feeling the effects of a blow to the face and what appeared to be a nose bleed, whilst Burgh had their own injury scare after a bad looking collision involving skipper Andrew Cameron and a Peebles forward. Cameron came off worse and was down for a few minutes holding the back his head and neck, but thankfully was OK to resume after treatment.

Clare was then put through on the Burgh goal after Connell White was unable to clear but Robertson came to the rescue with a low save to his right.

Cameron showed no ill-effects as he nearly put the Burgth ahead on the stroke of high time meeting a corner at the far post to see his shot hit the base of the woodwork with Hanratty then landing on the ball to save Peebles.

Mackenzie then had a speculative long range shot from distance in the 48th minute that was brilliantly tipped over by Robertson, whilst another Burgh chance fell to centre-back Cameron as he couldn’t make a clean connection to his volley from a good Macdonald cross from the right.

There were strong Burgh appeals for a penalty as Kellar Harris appeared to be clattered in the box as he prepared to shoot, but the referee was unmoved and awarded a corner instead in the 67th minute.

Both sides seemed to be going end to end for the remainder of the game without getting a serious effort on goal until injury time when Kellar Harris was put through by the limping Calum Anderson, who was still forward after being injured moments earlier. Harris’s low shot into the near post was pushed behind for a corner.

Overall it was a pleasing result for the Burgh, and especially pleasing for the defence to keep a clean sheet. Whilst a win would have been a good reward for the hard work and grit, the work rate was very good and an away point isn’t too bad with results elsewhere doing little damage.