Burgh welcomed Pumpherston back to East Shore Park for their second League meeting of the season, with a third visit scheduled for late November in the King Cup, hopefully to avoid the same double that the Burgh had themselves inflicted on Edinburgh United only recently by winning twice at their hosts’ venue.
The match started after a minute’s silence for former Pumpherston played Jack McGuigan, who had tragically passed away aged just 29.
It was the home side that started the brightest when a corner from the right by Owen McCallion was cleared the edge of the Pumpherston area for Mitchell Sharp to flick the ball forward to returning-skipper Mackenzie Williamson to cut inside and fire a low shot through a crowd of bodies into the corner of the net in only the 2nd minute.
The joy was short lived, however, as the visitors were on level terms in the 9th minute when an intricate set of short passes on the edge of the Burgh box presented Mairs with a sight on goal and his low shot went into the far corner past Joe Russell to make it one-apiece.
Burgh were close to restoring their lead in the 13th minute when a Stevie Jefferies corner from the right was met by the head of Logan Whyte but the Pumperston keeper Turner was on hand to pounce on the ball.
In the 20th minute Owen McNally did well to win possession around the centre circle with a sliding tackle to allow Jefferies to slide Sharp through towards goal. With only the keeper to beat, Turner was able to get enough of his body to block Sharp’s shot and send the ball past the post for a corner.
On 23 minutes a ball across the area from Jefferies fell for McCallion who saw his low effort bobble just past the near post.
It was the visitors that, instead, took the lead in the 25th minute when MacGregor put Johnston through on the left hand side of the area. His shot appeared to possibly have taken a deflection off a defender’s lunging attempt to block to wrong foot Russell and go into the net.
Pumperston had a good chance to make it three in the 42nd minute when a cross from the right found Johnston in acres of space in front of goal but, thankfully for Burgh, he couldn’t find the target with his header.
In the 57th minute a free kick on the right hand side of the area was cut back by CJ Thomson towards Sharp who found himself in space, but his shot went just over the bar.
Two minutes later McNally started and nearly finished the next attack with a pass to Thomson, whose cross for Jefferies was laid back to McNally who had now made his way towards the penalty area to see his effort blocked and hacked away.
On 59 minutes a Jefferies corner from the right was met by Williamson in the six-yard line and headed downwards goalbound before being claimed by Turner at the second attempt.
Burgh had a penalty appeal turned down in the 70th minute when a lofted ball over the Pumpherston defender by Ryan Heatherill put Sharp through on the right hand side, his cut back towards sub Calum Geddes was met by the Turner who appeared to collide and bring down the Burgh striker. The referee was unconvinced and waved play on.
As Burgh pushed forward for the equaliser with time running out, it was leaving gaps at the back and in the 74th minute Pumpherston sub Cochrane was given a good chance to put the game to bed when put through on goal on the edge of the area but blazed his effort high over the bar.
The killer goal did come, however, in the 82nd minute when a cross from the left was deflected of a defender’s attempted block to loop high over the Burgh defence to find Campbell alone at the far post to knock home from close range.
With the clock deep into stoppage time, the only real chance fell to Heatherill when a ball from Geddes was passed sideways to Heatherill about 5 yards outside the area but the sub’s effort flew just over the bar.
It was a disappointing performance from Burgh who weren’t at their best following two great results against Edinburgh United and Fauldhouse, but something they will be eager to correct for Saturday’s visit of Hawick to ESP.
