The Turf travelled to Lintz Cricket Club to take on Burnhopefield Hobson Golf Club in a league encounter. The Turf FC lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for attacking flair. Andy Gowland took his place in between the sticks for his first official game in the number one role, shielded by a back four consisting of Jak Booth on the right, Ben Walton on the left, and a central pairing of Lewis Sullivan and fresh starter Kevin Lowe. In front of them, the midfield duo of Joe Currie and Damo Freeman were tasked with both breaking up opposition play and supporting the defence. The attacking trio featured Tommy High on the right, Ian Johnstone in the central role, and Lewis Currie on the left, with Eithan Thomasson leading the line as the striker.
The match began with the Hobson asserting their dominance early on. Just ten minutes in, they struck first, scoring from inside the box to take a 1-0 lead. The Turf FC struggled to find their rhythm, and their woes continued when Burnhopefield doubled their advantage with a direct free-kick fired in at the back post.
As the first half progressed, the Turf fought back, battling hard against the opposition, but were unable to find the goal in a surplus of back and forth football across the pitch. It was here were things started to go downhill as a lack of communication and wandering effort led to a counter attack by the Hobson, securing another goal from inside the box in the 25th minute, extending their lead to 3-0. The Turf FC's defence appeared to be in disarray, and Burnhopefield capitalised on this, scoring a fourth goal with a lofted header just before half-time, leaving the score at 4-0 as the teams headed into the break.
The second half saw The Turf bring on previously retired Jack Dawson for Tommy High after a half time spat. The substitution aimed to inject some fresh energy into the side. Just five minutes after the restart, The Turf finally found a glimmer of hope when Lewis Currie scored from inside the box, assisted by Eithan Thomasson, narrowing the deficit to 4-1.
However, Burnhopefield quickly extinguished any hopes of a comeback after a debatable penalty decision in the 60th minute, where Ben Walton lay a fair challenge on the opposing striker and winning the ball, was ultimately ruled as a foul, where Burnhopefield restored their four-goal cushion after the spot kick slipped through the glove of Andy Gowland. The Turf made another substitution in the 65th minute, with Dan Gowland replacing Damo Freeman, but the changes did little to stem the tide of Burnhopefield's attacking prowess.
In the 70th minute, Burnhopefield struck again, scoring their sixth goal from inside the box, further demoralising The Turf. The frustration boiled over for Joe Currie, who received a yellow card for a bad tackle in the 75th minute, reflecting the mounting pressure on the team.
As the match drew to a close, The Turf FC made their final substitution, bringing on Hubert Szordykowski for Jack Dawson in the 80th minute. Unfortunately for The Turf, Burnhopefield added insult to injury by scoring their seventh goal from the penalty spot in the 85th minute, sealing a comprehensive 7-1 victory.
Despite the heavy defeat, Lewis Currie stood out as a bright spot for The Turf, earning recognition as the Man of the Match for his goal and overall performance. The Turf will need to regroup and reflect on this match as they prepare for their next challenge in the league.
