After the extreme of playing Lowland League Civil Service Strollers the previous, Burgh faced the other end of the scale with a trip to Edinburgh Community at St. Mark’s Park – but the task was no less important, and just as mammoth.
What was served up, whilst entertaining for the neutral, provided varying levels of emotions for supporters of both sides playing.
It was the hosts that through the form book firmly out the window in the early stages and caught Burgh off guard inside the opening few minutes. In the 3rd minute Mowatt cut in from the right and fired a shot that was parried by Joe Russell. The rebound fell to Snedden who found Russell at close hand to block.
The wake-up call wasn’t heeded, though, as Edinburgh took the lead a minute later when a high ball was headed on to Mowatt who spectacularly lofted a shot over the head of Russell to score.
Burgh were looking very sluggish in the opening exchanges before their first attempt of any note when a Johnny Malcolm header looped over the bar from a long throw into the box on 16 minutes.
On 21 minutes Burgh nearly got a fortunate goal as a cross from Sharp on the left was headed narrowly past his own post by an Edinburgh defender.
Mackenzie Williamson got Burgh level in the 25th minute after a superb raking ball from CJ Thomson to ‘Mack’ on the left who ran on, cut in onto his right foot and fired a low drive into the far corner for 1-1.
Burgh were starting to get into gear, it seemed, and Thomson went close on 31 minutes with a high shot that was pushed away by Moffat. But their was another blow in 42nd minute as Mowatt found himself unmarked from a free kick from the right to head home at close range to give Edinburgh a half-time lead.
The second half started with Newburgh seemingly woken up and restored parity again within 2 minutes when a Rhys Sneddon corner was flicked on by Thomson, deflected upwards by a defender nicely for Callum Roughead to head home his first goal for the club to make it 2-2.
A great break from Owen McCallion set up a chance for Williamson on 51 minutes but his low shot was saved by Moffat. Sneddon then went close with a rasping effort from distance on the right that just eluded the crossbar with the keeper beaten on 64 minutes.
Then was a frantic four-minute spell as both sides exchanged goals. In the 67th minute a corner from the left was flicked on across goal and headed home from close range by Nicol.
Play switched to the other end and McCallion’s clever headed flick on put Sharp through on goal as he beat defender and keeper to equalise for 3-3 on 71 minutes.
Edinburgh took the lead for the fourth, and final time, in the 71st minute as Adam Wilson was adjudged to have handled in the box and Brown beat Russell’s fingertips to score from the spot.
As Newburgh chased another equaliser, they were seemingly handed an advantage after Johnston was shown his second yellow card 12 minutes from time. Thomson then went close with a low shot on 85 minutes.
Disaster struck, though, a minute later when Edinburgh broke forward beating the offside trap and Russell brought down Barclay as the Edinburgh no.11 looked to take the ball round the keeper. Brown dispatched his second penalty of the game to make it 5-3.
Burgh were still looking to get back into the game and Sharp had two good efforts in the closing stages but a comeback did not materialise.
It was a disappointing result and performance from Burgh, but it was an entertaining and interesting game for the neutral at a gloomy St. Mark’s Park.
Man of the Match: CJ Thomson.
