The Burgh returned back to East Shore Park for the second home game in a row with genuine hopes of a better afternoon than the previous week against Dalkeith when we welcomed Edinburgh United and their vocal youth who created a bit of a ‘Samba’ atmosphere with their drum.
The opening 45 minutes seemed to back up that optimism with a much-improved display. In the opening minute Michael Perrie burst through on goal but couldn’t find the target with a good chance.
It was largely all Newburgh in the first period and Ewan Strang was unlucky in the 11th minute when he picked up a poor clearance from the Edinburgh keeper wide on the left flank but his shot from distance with the goal exposed was deflected by an outstretched defender’s leg for a corner.
The returning Kellar Harris then had a good chance as he beat the offside trap to force the United keeper into a save in the 15th minute. Moments later it was Perrie again to test the keeper’s hands as he cut inside from the right to fire a left-foot shot towards the near post.
The Burgh got the opening goal they deserved in the 35th minute when a Cai Macdonald corner from the right was met on the turn by Strang from about 14 yards out and his low effort went through a crowd of bodies into the far corner for a smart finish.
Perrie had another effort from the edge of the area saved low by the keeper with the Burgh should have been leading by a bigger margin going in at the break.
But the second half saw a complete reversal of fortunes as United came back into the game in convincing style and Burgh crumbled. In the 52nd minute Lamond knocked home from close range after David Chalmers couldn’t hold onto a corner as a mass of bodies went for the same ball.
Lamond then put the visitors ahead in the 57th minute with a rocket of a free kick which gave the keeper no chance and suddenly the game had turned on its head and Burgh were looking dazed.
It seemed to be all Edinburgh at this stage as they smelt blood and Burgh’s matters went from bad to worse as half-time sub Ryan Lawson saw red in the 73rd minute for a second yellow for a rash challenge.
Edinburgh Player-manager Coult then put the game to bed in the 81st minute with a powerful effort from the right-hand side of the area which gave sub keeper Mark Robertson no chance, much to the delight of the vocal youth from the Capital behind the goal.
The capitulation was complete a few minutes later when Young’s shot was deflected and looped over the keeper into the net.
It was a desperately disappointing second half performance which the players will need to massively improve on going forward if we are to avoid being dragged into the thick of the relegation batter – especially with tough fixtures away to Syngenta and home to Whitburn coming round the corner.
Attacking wise the team need to be more clinical with the chances that come their way as this would have put the game to bed at the break, whilst defensively we are being punished for seemingly every mistake we make.
Understandably confidence is low, but this is a test of character for a young side. They need to roll up their sleeves, work as hard as they ever have done and encourage each other to get through the storm. They’re a good bunch of lads and need to transfer their hard work in training into a Saturday afternoon to get the merits they deserve.
We dust ourselves down and we must pick ourselves up and go again because these lads are capable and deserving of better.
