The Burgh returned to East Shore Park in the hope of registering their first points of the season with the visit of Pumpherston, who equally were looking for their first victory of the campaign.
It started brightly for Newburgh as they started playing some good football. A forward ball from CJ Thomson over the Pumpherston defence saw Ryan Heatherill scurrying away in the 5th minute. He beat his man and fired a pinpoint ball across the face of goal and on a plate for Owen McNally to knock home from close range. It was a great ball that would pose danger for any defence and the Burgh no.11 was in the right place to capitalise.
It was to be a game of few clear-cut chances for either side, but in the 17th minute Mackenzie Williamson had a low shot from the edge of the area saved by Baxter.
The visitors pulled level in the 21st minute from the penalty spot. Brash and Richmond exchanged one-twos on the left-hand side before the former made his way into the Burgh box and sent over a low cross. As Callum Roughead slid in to block the cross, the ball hit the defender’s hand unintentionally and the referee pointed to the spot. Brash made no mistake from the spot to equalise.
In the 32nd Williamson picked up a loose ball on the left hand side following McNally challenging for a header, player it sideways to Thomson who played in Heatherill. The tricky footwork of Heatherill beat his man and fired a shot at goal that was pushed away by Baxter.
The second half was barely three minutes old when the visitors had a shout for a possible goal as a header at the back post by Osborne hit a defender on the line and was clawed away by Joe Russell. The referee was unmoved by the appeals and play continued.
Burgh then had three good chances to take the lead in the space of a few minutes. In the 50th minute, a free kick played short by Mitchell Sharp to McNally saw his low effort saved. Then moments later a slide rule pass by Heatherill on the far touchline sent Sharp through towards goal. With defenders closing in, Sharp elected to go solo with McNally offering oncoming assistance. But with the keeper coming out, and two defenders covering back, Baxter managed to block Sharp’s chance and McKeon following up to clear the danger. Then moments later Sharp latched onto a bad touch from a Pumpherston player to have a volley from 25 yards out which Baxter was equal to.
In the 64th minute a Brash free kick from about 7 or 8 yards outside the area was brilliantly tipped over by Russell as both sides looked to grab the winner. Unfortunately for Burgh, the winner was quickly in sight as from the resultant corner Rafferty’s header at the back post found its way past everybody and into the far corner of the net.
Burgh couldn’t find that equaliser and Pumpherston held on to take the much-needed three points away with them. A disappointing result from a side that, you suspect, is just trying to find the right tweak to come good. A reaction is needed quickly and the visit to fellow Fifers Lochgelly Albert on Wednesday night would be a great start.
Man of the Match: CJ Thomson.
