Ormiston Primrose 0 - 2 Newburgh Juniors
01 March 2025. Kicked off at 2:30 PM.

Away cup match played on 01 March 2025.
Kicked off at 2:30 PM

The Burgh took a break from League action with a League Cup visit to Third Division rivals Ormiston Primrose.

The team were buoyed by the return of a number of recent absentees with skipper Mackenzie Williamson returning to the side with Tam Hampson and Lyall Brown taking up places on the bench in a line up that was largely unchanged from the previous week’s win over Edinburgh CFC.

The visitors started looking the stronger side against an Ormiston side that also looked much changed from our last meeting in December.

In the 10th minute Calum Geddes ran on to a half-cleared ball to fire a shot at goal from distance that just wide of the near post.

In the 14th minute Andrew McCallion fired a shot on the volley into the body off Ormiston keeper Pollock from a move that had a bit of ‘brotherly influence’ as striker Andrew picked up a flick on from younger brother Owen.

Williamson was having a lot of joy down the right-hand side and he did well to force a corner on 15 minutes with a driving run. Two minutes later, Williamson again had success beating his man to get a cross in by the corner that Ronnie Martin fired just over.

The break through came in the 20th minute with a throw-in on the right by Geddes to Williamson. Again, the Burgh skipper got a cross in from deep into the corner for Andrew McCallion, whose turn and shot was blocked. The ball was partly cleared to the edge of the area but fell into the path of Rhys Sneddon to drill home a low effort from 20 yards out for his first goal in Newburgh colours.

The game was held up for several minutes after a collision between two players going for the ball in the 23rd minute. Unfortunately, Ormiston’s Dougan came off worse and was eventually carried off the field. Sadly the outcome was a serious knee injury for the Ormi defender and everyone at Newburgh wishes Adam a speedy recovery.

Keeper Scott Kyles and his defence were having a quiet so far, but the Burgh keeper had to be at his best in the 33rd minute with a spectacular save from a header from a corner destined for the corner by Aitken that Kyles somehow got his fingers to push around the post.

Newburgh got a chance to extend their lead as a throw-in on the left by Sneddon for Andrew McCallion ran into the box as he held off his man before seemingly drawing the foul from Souness before he could get his shot away.

Andrew McCallion dusted himself down to send the keeper the wrong way to give Burgh a 2-0 lead in the 40th minute of the game.

On 42 minutes Kyles came out bravely to cover a cross under pressure from Fairnie.

The game was already looking fairly comfortable for Newburgh at this stage, but their cause potentially got easier when the home side were reduced to 10 men early in the second half when Grandison picked up two yellow cards inside 30 seconds for dissent.

Martin tested Pollock again with a turn and shot in the 54th m inute before Ormiston made their remaining four substitutions in the 58th minute which did raise their tempo and threat considerably.

But Burgh still looked reasonably comfortable and never seemed in any danger of letting their lead slip. On 69 minutes Williamson was given a deserved break after a very productive return to the side with Tam Hampson coming on.

The visitors were still looking the more likely to add the next goal with Cammy Newsome, again looking impressive, having a strong drive saved by Pollock in the 72nd minute and Martin having an effort blocked moments later after Hampson headed a ball back into the box.

On 78 minutes Hampson cut inside to get a cross over from the right deep towards the far post which was headed by a defender under pressure by Martin to Andrew McCallion in the six-yard box. Whilst stretching for the first ball, Pollock made a brilliant save from point blank save with McCallion instinctively knocking the rebound goal bound with the Ormiston keeper again pulling off heroics to avoid his side conceding a third.

Andrew McCallion was eager to add to his tally and he met a cross by sub Lewis Stevenson from the right with a touch, spin and a left foot shot that cannoned off the cross bar from 12 yards out.

Another Burgh sub, Lyall Brown, was also in the hunt for goals and he had two efforts in the closing stages seeking to extend Burgh’s lead. His first effort was charged down on its way to goal, with a second effort being a good move by the Crossgates-loanee but his shot went just over.

It was a solid, strong but comfortable performance from Burgh that sealed progress into Round 2 of the League Cup. As much as that was pleasing, a second clean sheet and win on the trot (and a third clean sheet in five games), showed a resilience and improvement that we’ve seen in brief spells throughout the season and hopefully this will be the start of a settled and consistent run of form.

Andrew McCallion scooped Man of the Match by getting through a ton of work, running and effort. But notable mentions have to go to the skipper Williamson who was hard-working and having much joy with everything he was involved in. Ronnie Martin again put in another impressive showing, and Cammy Newsome and Kian Beattie seem to be forging a good partnership too. Also, worthy to mention Rhys Sneddon with a solid display capped with a great first goal for the club. But nobody in a Burgh shirt had a bad game, and that too was very pleasing.

Man of the Match: Andrew McCallion (sponsored by: Kinglassie Building Supplies)