Newburgh’s weary warriors concluded the last game of a busy schedule of Saturday-Midweek-Saturday with a trek down to the scenic surrounds of Whitestone Park, home of Peebles Rovers. Rumours are that this would be one of the last games played here, but there are, I understand, a few hurdles to clear before plans for finalised before that’s confirmed.
Jack Foster, Owen McNally, Josh Lindsay and Kierren Ritchie were all added to the absentee list, but Burgh were able to welcome back skipper Andrew Cameron from injury and Elliot Jowitt had recovered enough from his knock to return to the starting line up after on the bench in midweek at Kennoway. Joe Russell donned the gloves in goal, and Ruairidh McPhate was also restored to the starting eleven.
Russell was in for a busier afternoon than his opposite number and was called into a spectacular save in the 7th minute to push away a powerful strike.
But it was Burgh that got the first goal as Cammy Taylor was allowed to dribble out of defence and passed to Harris Mitchell who with his first touch sent a slide rule pass through to Mitchell Sharp who beat the offside trap to round the keeper with ease and roll home into an empty net in the 14th minute.
Peebles were sparked into life and Joyce had a chance from distance fly past the near post in the 18th minute, whilst at the other end Mitchell got on the end of a Burgh attack and fizzed a low effort just wide of the near post with the keeper rooted to the spot.
From here on in, the hosts were getting more into the game and exerting pressure with a few near-misses until their breakthrough came in the 41st minute when a corner to the back post was headed across goal with a follow-up header blocked on the line before falling to Mackay to finish the loose ball at close range.
Russell did well to get his hands on a Dickson free kick early in the second period and Adam Wilson also did excellent to get a last ditch foot in to block a shot at goal in the 51st minute. Russell then excelled with a brilliant fingertip save over the bar from a rasping shot from Ross Lamb from just outside the area in the 54th minute.
Chances were at a premium, however, but whatever goalmouth action there was more centred at Russell’s end of the pitch.
With time running out, Peebles managed to find their winner as Dickson played the ball across the edge of the area to Kivlichan to slide home in the 82nd minute.
It was a disappointing result for a weary looking Burgh who have had a tough run of games with low numbers of players available. But it was still another encouraging performance.
As I was putting my camera equipment away at full time as the pitch cleared, a Peebles local came up to me and said “Can I ask you a question?”. Sure, I said. “How the hell are you at the bottom of the table playing like that? Everyone around me is puzzled Newburgh are where they are in the table…”.
That for me was enough to convince me that we’ll be alright and the team are improving and performing on the whole, despite a desperate mid-season period. Onwards and upwards with just 2 games left of the season with the players having the ‘luxury’ of a few extra days rest with no more midweek fixtures remaining before Saturday’s trip to Ormiston.
Man of the Match: Adam Wilson - stuck to his task relentlessly and didn't put a foot wrong.
