Burgh Get Their Rewards with Win

The challenging schedule of a depleted squad continued but thankfully there was to be a happy ending for Andy Healy and his chargers with a visit to Star to face Kennoway Star Hearts at Treaton Park.

Following on from Sunday’s defeat at Edinburgh South, the two injured central defenders from that game were unable to start with Elliot Jowitt only available to take a place on the bench and captain Andrew Cameron on the sidelines from his injury.

The absence of so many players didn’t seem obvious as Burgh started the game strongest with surprise returnee from injury Kierren Ritchie forcing home keeper Moran into a double stop just inside the Kennoway penalty area in just the 5th minute.

On 9 minutes Ronan Hall was unlucky to make a clean connection on a Mitchell Sharp cross from the left after beating the offside trap as Sharp returned a corner from the right flank.

The home side went close in the 21st minute when a long range shot from Malcolm was parried by Jack Foster and with two strikers running in on the loose ball they got in each other’s way with one blocking the other’s shot from close range.

Newburgh made Kennoway pay for this miss as Sharp turned his man near the sideline just inside the home side’s half and sent over a deep cross that was dummied by Harris Mitchell, missed by a defender and fell to the on-rushing Ritchie who kept his cool to fire a low drive into the far corner in the 25th minute.

Things got even better for Burgh five minutes later when Kyle Tracey powered home a header from a Jamie Fyfe corner to put the visitors 2-0 up and the confidence was oozing out of the side.

The pressure on the Kennoway goal continued and it was rewarded when Newburgh went 3-0 up in the 37th minute when a Fyfe free kick into the box seemed to deceive Moran and bounce over his head for Ronan Hall to run on to and head into an empty net.

For a spell the home side seemed rattled and in danger of losing their head as they picked up a couple of yellow cards amid their obvious frustrations. But they were handed a lifeline in the 42nd minute when they pulled a goal back when Tully headed home a corner at the far post to reduce the arrears.

With a very sloping pitch and a home side with their tails now up trying to get back into the game with the slope at their advantage, it was going to be a real battle of character for Burgh to hold on but hold on they did.

The defence battled valiantly with Fyfe, in particular, leading the line of the visiting defence in exemplary style to keep Kennoway away from goal.

Hall had a chance saved by Moran on 64 minutes after good work by Tracey in the middle of the park, whilst Sharp and Trialist both had a chance in quick succession to put the game to bed in the 79th minute.

Kennoway set up a nervy and grandstand finish when substitute Meldrum flicked a looping header into the far corner of the net in the 81st minute.

But still Burgh kept battling away, working hard to protect their precious 3-2 lead with the clock ticking away.

With 2 minutes of normal time to go, Hall did well to break away before being hauled down by Tully as he went towards goal. The referee had no choice but to award a straight red as the Burgh striker cleared would have had the legs to go through on goal.

Fyfe forced the keeper into a save as Kennoway went desperately in search of a late, late equaliser. Deep into stoppage time they nearly got in when a volley from sub Bryce looked destined for the roof of the net. But thankfully for Burgh the shot also just managed to clear the crossbar instead.

The whistle blew 5 minutes into injury time to much relief from the Burgh team who thoroughly deserved their much-needed victory. It was a league win that has been elusive for some time, but was very much deserved for recent performances and effort alone.

Burgh Man of the Match: Jamie Fyfe.