Disappointing Outcome From A Difficult Afternoon

Newburgh were back on their travels again following last week’s successful road trip to Hawick. Sadly, the afternoon ended with something of a hangover with their hosts deserving winners across the 90 minutes.

There was only one change in the Burgh side from that Hawick game with Blair Campbell swapping places with Finn Bannerman – although this was reversed midway through the first half due to injury.

Meanwhile, Burgh got off to the worst possible start in only the 2nd minute when Pumpherston attacked into the box and with back to goal Mackenzie Williamson and Matty Mitchell got caught in a moment of confusion as Mack flicked the ball away from goal as Mitchell swung to clear upfield with a forward closing in.

Unfortunately, Mitchell’s swing brought down the player and Johnston sent Scott Kyles the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Burgh’s first real chance came in the 21st minute when Campbell’s pass to Andy McCallion in the centre circle saw the Burgh skipper play a ball for Ryan Daly to run onto and drive towards goal and his shot was saved by the keeper.

It was a game of few serious goalmouth opportunities for both sides on a difficult surface that was bobbly and ‘squelchy’ from a heavy downpour before kick off but in the 24th minute Pumpherston’s Ontonti did well to get his shot away but, thankfully for Burgh, Cammy Taylor was able to deflect his shot behind for a corner.

Burgh showed some of the potential we know they can produce with a good move in the 40th minute before the ball was knocked behind by a defender. From the resultant corner fired into the near post, a number of bodies went for the ball and keeper McQuillan was able rescue his side and dive onto the loose ball.

In the 49th minute Williamson’s low free kick fired into the near post was pushed away by the keeper. Two minutes later a long ball forward found Pumpherston on the front foot with unable to clear the danger and Ontonti’s shot tested Kyles from the edge of the area.

Frustrations were starting to rise in the game with a number of “time delaying” tactics and robust tackles, but matters heightened with another nasty looking tackle from the home side – this time, on Daly near the centre of the pitch.

Even from a distance it looked a poor one, but somehow the offender escaped unpunished whilst Kian Beattie, instead, picked up a yellow for – understandably – protesting the tackle. Meanwhile, the unfortunate Daly was carried off the pitch and was still struggling to walk well after the game.

On 69 minutes McCallion was unlucky not to find his feet quick enough to control and get a shot away. With 10 minutes remaining, Burgh had a strong penalty appeal turned down when Kieran Twaddell was tripped by Damba just inside the box. The referee, however, felt surprisingly different and awarded the free kick on the edge of the area. McCallion went close with a drilled free kick that just went over the bar.

As the visitors pushed looking forward in the search for that equaliser, there was a risk that the hosts could make them pay at the other end and that is exactly what happened in the 87th minute. Ontonti picked up possession and drove towards goal and Cammy Newsome was able to deflect his effort for a corner.

Pumpherston were being marshalled well by skipper Nyang throughout the game and it was, perhaps, rewarding for him to score the killer goal as he outjumped Kyles and Twaddell at the near post to flick home that second goal.

It was a disappointing result for Burgh and goes to prove that the point of what a crazy league this is with the majority of teams capable of swapping points off each other. There is little room for slip-ups and Burgh will be sure to dust themselves down and be ready to go again.