The Burgh returned to East Shore Park and welcomed bottom side Hawick Royal Albert. Despite the league position of the visitors currently, it was a misleading situation as they made the Burgh worked very hard and the Hawick performance deserved far more than it would appear on paper.
Stevie Renton tested David Chalmers in just the 2nd minute, whilst Rory Marshall had a goal disallowed in the 5th minute for offside. Jamie Gay forced the Hawick keeper, Ingles, into a good save from a powerful free kick moments later.
The visitors were looking lively and sharp in the opening period with Ford, To To and Fang all warmed the hands of Chalmers. The keeper then had a close call when his clearance rebounded off a Hawick forward and looped goalwards, with Chalmers rushing back to recover before the ball crossed the line.
The opening goal came in the 32nd minute with the first of a hat-trick of assists for Jamie Gay when his corner on the left was met by skipper Andrew Cameron who followed up who own goalbound effort to ensure the ball crossed the line to make it 1-0.
The home side could have had a penalty moments later when ‘Jives’ was seemingly fouled but the referee played the advantage and Cai MacDonald’s effort was blocked. In the 42nd minute it was Ronan Hall’s turn to have a shot blocked by the Hawick defence. Moments later another defence-splitting ball from Gay presented MacDonald with a glorious chance but he put over from close range.
No danger, moments later and it was Take 2 as Jives repeated the killer ball deep into the opposing penalty area and MacDonald wasn’t going to miss a second opportunity as he met the ball beautifully, took it to the side of the keeper and slotted home number 2 on 44 minutes.
The visitors weren’t going to lie down and again had a number of chances from Fowler, Fang and Renton required Chalmers’ intervention. Meanwhile, at the other end Kellar Harris had his own action replay with two pieces of careless defending from Hawick within a matter of minutes but the birthday boy was unable to capitalise. Hall and MacDonald also both had rasping efforts test the keeper with Burgh having 4 good chances in as many minutes.
Warning bells started ringing in the 68th minute as Hawick were awarded a penalty for a foul on the edge of the area. Owen Renton converted the spot kick and moments later Common put wide for Hawick.
But Newburgh regained their composure and a ball slid from the left by Hall found Jives alone on the right hand side of the area and he laid the ball low back to Harris to slide home a well-taken finish into the far corner to restore the 2 goal advantage.
In the 88th minute a dangerous cross from the right by Connall White found the Hawick defence AWOL with subs Hamid Eddouss and Michael Perrie almost fighting for the ball in the 6 yard box with no defence close. It was Eddouss who got their marginally first and slotted home with ease.
An important win for the Burgh, and the first back-to-back wins for the management team. Some really good play by the hosts, but they were made to work for the win by an equally impressive Hawick side who will surprise many.
