Burgh welcomed Linton Hotspur back to East Shore Park for their second visit and the last game before Christmas looking for a bit of festive cheer.
Sadly, Linton cast the role of ‘The Grinch’ to steal the points away the Burgh with a goal either side of the break to breach the home side’s resistance.
Lyall Brown continued his fine start to his Burgh spell with a low effort that gratefully went into the arms of Linton keeper Panther’s gloves.
In the 10th minute a driving run from Watson into the Burgh box saw the Linton man fire a low shot across the face of goal.
There was concern for Burgh in the 12th minute when Joe Russell landed awkwardly and was in great discomfort with a shoulder injury, but after a spell of treatment the keeper was able to continue the match.
The visitors remained on the front foot and Woods beat the Burgh offside trap to send a low ball across goal. In the 27th minute Linton thought they had a shout for a penalty when McLean got through on goal and fell, but it appeared (backed up by Veo) that the visiting no.7 had stumbled over his own feet.
The opening goal that had been threatened for a while duly arrived in the 34th minute when Watson held onto the ball on the left-hand side of the Burgh area, twisting and turning before sending in a low ball which Woods fired home from 7 yards out.
Linton continued to press but Newburgh were able to stand firm and hold out until the break.
Burgh had a penalty shout of their own in the 54th minute when Brown felt he was fouled, but the referee was not convinced and waved away the appeals. In the 55th minute Ehizojie won possession and sent a rasping shot at the Burgh goal, but Russell was more than equal to it to push it away for a corner.
The second goal did come, however, in the 66th minute when McLean was allowed the time and space to run deep into Newburgh’s half before sending a cross over which was knocked back. The Burgh defence couldn’t clear the danger and Tait was able to turn his man and fire Linton’s second low into the far corner for 2-0.
Burgh did manage a consolation in the 75th minute, which owed much to the persistence of Brown and sub Owen McNally to chase the ball back and pressure the visitors back towards their own goal. Craig’s last touch running back towards goal went too far ahead of him and McNally was able to get their first to cut inside and fire a low shot past Panther to make it 2-1.
McNally was looking inspired by his goal and went close with a spectacular volley in the 78th minute from 25 yards out which dipped just wide of target.
The home side were given a numerical boost in the 80th minute when Ehizojie was given a straight red for lashing out an elbow a number of times into the back of Owen McCallion in a crazy moment of frustration which was within yards of the referee to make a clear decision and the Linton no.17 risked putting his side into danger.
Whilst the dismissal did help Burgh’s possession, it wasn’t enough to find the equaliser with sub Jefferies seeing one effort blocked and another header loop just wide of the far post from a corner on the right, whilst Mackenzie Williamson wasn’t able to get enough power to trouble Panther in the closing stages.
Overall, it was a disappointing display from Burgh and there can be no argument that Linton were well worthy of all three points. There were promising signs with Man of the Match Lyall Brown working his socks off, often without sufficient support. Owen McNally looked lively when he came on and took his goal very well, which will hopefully do his confidence the world of good. Rhys Sneddon, playing at centre-back and Ronnie Martin covering at left back also put in solid displays but Burgh will need much more effort for their next opponents on Saturday.
Man of the Match: Lyall Brown - worked solidly with limited support, but still giving 100%.
