In the 21st minute Burgh had a penalty shout after Calum Black’s free kick was headed on my Mackenzie Williamson and as Cammy Taylor jumped for the ball appeared to have been nudged over but the referee was not convinced.

On 26 minutes McKeown’s ball into the Newburgh box was headed away by Owen McCallion but fell to Bruce who tired a shot just wide of Scott Kyles’ goal.

Burgh’s next two chances fell to a more unorthodox source as right back Calum Geddes picked up a loose ball from another Black free kick into the box to run on and fire a low shot wide of target two minutes later. Then another Black deep free kick was punched away by keeper Thomson before Geddes floated a ball towards the far post that was deflected behind for a corner.

In the 32nd minute that move was reversed in Oakley’s favour when a free kick was punched away by Kyles, falling for Paton who set up Strickland whose shot was blocked by Williamson.

Owen McNally then floated a ball over the heads of the Oakley defence for Finn Bannerman to run onto but Thomson just beat the Burgh no.10 to collect. McNally then was on the end of another clearance from another Black free kick to fire a low shot between a crowd of bodies into the arms of the keeper.

Bruce had a chance for the visitors in the 40th minute with a curling effort from distance just wide before the Blairwood Park side did take the lead as Bruce went one better flicking home a header from a corner deep into first half stoppage time.

Black was Burgh’s saviour early in the second half with a goal line clearance that, ultimately, could look at the turning point in the game as he raced back to clear after Bruce had raced through on goal and slotted past Kyles. The Burgh defender managed to desperate stop the ball on the line and as his momentum pushed him over he was able to swing a boot to clear the ball.

The Andrew McCallion show started in the 70th minute after Williamson picked up a headed clearance to float a ball towards the six yard box for McCallion to flick past Thomson for the equaliser.

Oakley had a chance to regain the lead with a goalbound effort that was flicked over by Bruce in an attempt to deceive Kyles in the 75th minute.

It was looking a tense but exciting game, thoughts may have been starting to look towards the prospect of penalties but McCallion was having none of that.

On 82 minutes a Roughead ball forward following an Oakley break was cleverly flicked on my retreating defender Taylor for sub Kieran Twaddell to run on towards goal and play a ball across the face of goal beating keeper and a defender for McCallion to meet it and knock home at the far post from a couple of yards out to make it 2-1.

Oakley desperately chased an equaliser and on 86 minutes Kyles had to be at his best to brilliantly push away a point blank Jessimer header from close range.

But McCallion was to have the killer say in the first minute of injury time when another Black set piece from the touchline into the Oakley box was headed back across goal by Twaddell and McCallion outjumped two defenders to head towards the far post which Oakley sub Williamson was unable to keep out for his 18th goal of the season.

Whilst Andrew McCallion will obviously pick up the plaudits for his excellent hat-trick, it was a real team display with each member of the team playing their ‘A’ game and younger brother Owen being a key cog in the engine of the middle of the park.

Man of the Match: Owen McCallion.
Match Photos: J19 Photography vs. Oakley United.
Match Highlights: vs. Oakley United (H).