Burgh travelled on Sunday to Edinburgh to Paties Road where a tough-looking encounter with Edinburgh South against a side in a strong position to snatch the third promotion spot from Armadale thanks to a number of games in hand.
Newburgh’s already thread-bare squad could have done with out further injuries and illnesses that swept through the camp. Ronan Hall returned to the side, along with skipper Andrew Cameron. But illnesses had seen late call offs for a couple of others so manager Andy Healy was forced to shuffle his pack as best he could.
In fairness, you wouldn’t have known of the visitors’ numerical struggles as Burgh put in a battling performance against the odds which has generally seen a steep improvement in recent performances.
Things got off to a great start for Burgh as in the 4th minute, makeshift left-back Owen McNally opened the scoring with an absolute screamer. After winning possession near the centre circle, he managed to weave through a few challenges to unleash an unstoppable shot from around 30 yards out which left the keeper rooted to the spot and flew into the top corner.
It was an excellent finish from McNally who has not let the side down with his work-rate, including covering at full back in recent weeks, so it was pleasing and extremely rewarding for the player.
But South were also more than capable of posing problems and in the 7th minute a high bouncing ball into the box caught Foster at full stretch with a striker incoming to push away, the ball fell to Standen whose low shot was cleared off the line by Elliot Jowitt.
Play switched to the other end moments later and Jamie Fyfe went close after a clearance from a free kick fell to him on the edge of the area and his delicate shot went just over the bar with the keeper beaten.
Martin had a couple of chances for South again as he sought and equaliser before the first damaging blow when Jowitt limped off in the 19th minute. South took advantage of his and two minutes later they scored when, following a corner, O’Brien turned and was able to slot home from close range.
Matters got worse for Burgh in the 33rd minute as skipper Cameron also left the action with injury so Burgh had lost both recognised centre-backs.
Full credit to Burgh in that they never gave up and kept working away. Just before half time Kyle Tracey headed off his own goal line, with Hall forcing the ball behind for a corner.
Then on the stroke of half time Jack Foster showed his recent great form with an outstanding point-blank save from Martin’s close range diving header to tip over.
Whilst the odds were heavily stacked against Burgh, they kept battling away and Mitchell Sharp was unlucky when he broke through for keeper Whitelaw to come out and collect in the 53rd minute.
Fyfe then went close with a free cute from the left hand side of the area which caught Whitelaw off guard and scrabbling to claw back off the line. Whilst there were appeals for a goal, it was a tough call either way for the official.
South kept pressing for the winner to keep their promotion challenge running but found Foster in the way to deny chances.
The winner finally came in the 77th minute when Kerr found a way into the Burgh box and fired a low powerful shot towards the near post which was blocked well by Foster but the ball fell nicely for Ferguson running in to slot home from about 6 yards out.
The hosts were reduced to 10 men with five minutes remaining as Ferguson took his protests too far after he felt he was fouled as he got a shot away and the referee gave him his second yellow.
Foster then pulled off another great save from Martin in the 87th minute but the Burgh were unable to find a way back in the dying minutes.
It was a tough result for Burgh, but considering the number of absentees in a small squad and then losing both central defenders inside the opening half an hour, it was a spirited performance and showed a continued work-rate and performance that should offer much encouragement going forward.
Man of the Match: Jack Foster - some more excellent saves kept Burgh within a fighting chance.
