Newburgh returned for a quick return to Edinburgh United’s temporary Saughton Enclosure home as the hosts await remedial works to be completed at their usual Paties Road home.
Due to a number of absentees, manager Andy Healy needed to shuffle his pack with CJ Thomson dropping into central defence alongside Callum Roughead and Kyle Tracey fitting in at right back. Ewan Coutts came into the middle of the park, Mitchell Sharp switched to the left and it was a first start for Stevie Jeffries up front.
The game threatened to be in for a rough start with some wild weather just before kick off, but thankfully for the spectators were able to take shelter and the game kicked off with the sun back out at Adam Wilson found himself unmarked in the box in just the 2nd minute and turned to see his shot blocked at close range by United keeper Taylor.
Edinburgh had a chance themselves moments later with an effort just over the bar by Ingram.
Jeffries was looking full of energy and the home defence were having problems with his – and Sharp’s – pace. In the 5th minute Jeffries flashed a telling ball across the face of goal but a Burgh colleague was unable to find that finishing touch. Then in the 8th minute his shot was deflected for a corner.
In the 27th minute Sharp continued his rich vein of goalscoring form when he pounced on a bad touch from a United defender to race on and slot home past Taylor to make it 1-0.
United were continuing to have trouble with Jeffries’ speed. Just a minute later he broke through the offside trap again and cut a ball back from the byline to present Sharp with the simplest of finishes from close range with defenders still chasing back to make it two.
In the 39th minute Jeffries again beat the home side’s offside trap to fire a low shot just wide of the far post. Once again he was a thorn in the home team’s side on 43 minutes when he battled well to win possession and had another effort just wide. There was still time for another Jeffries chance with a free kick on the stroke of half time saved by Taylor.
In the 54th minute Logan Whyte, a half time substitute for Euan Morris, was unlucky with a low shot across goal that was clearly saved by Taylor but the referee wasn’t giving the corner. It was a very good save to prevent a shot destined for the bottom corner of the net.
Wilson again found himself in unchartered territory in the 59th minute with a spectacular volley from 8 yards out that flew narrowly wide of the post.
At the other end of the field, the defence marshalled by Roughead and Thomson were putting in a sterling display to snuff out any chances that came at them with present keeper Joe Russell with one of his quietest afternoons as the team in front of them were able to break up or block any chances before being able to test the keeper.
Jeffries and Sharp again had chances in the 76th and 77th minute before the new signing earned a well-earned rest in the 79th minute as part of a double substitution as Burgh looked to freshen up to maintain the quest for three points.
Tempers were getting a little frayed on the sidelines as United’s hopes of getting back into the game dwindled in the closing stages. But there was still time for a spell of Edinburgh pressure – much like in the earlier fixture when Burgh held the same scoreline at the exact same stage of the game with United grabbing an injury time consolation.
But the Burgh defence wasn’t breached on this occasion and this owed much to Wilson who aided his defensive team mates with a goal line clearance deep in stoppage time.
The final whistle blew to much relief from Burgh who recorded their second victory against United at Saughton.
It was a colossal performance all over the park. The defence putting in a superb display to resist any Edinburgh pressure, especially from Man of the Match CJ Thomson, but also notable mentions to Roughead, Tracey and Sneddon. At the other end of the park, Jeffries made an impressive and hard-working full debut and was ably supported by skipper for the day, Sharp.
