With a number of absentees, the task was never going to be easy one as it was to be proven as the hosts started strongly with bursting run from Brash in the 6th minute testing the gloves of Ben Duffield.

The hosts were awarded a penalty in the 8th minute when Nelson appeared to make the most of Duffield diving towards his feet for the ball and Ross Mackay duly stepped up to score from the spot.

Burgh’s first chance came in the 20th minute when Trialist A picked up a stray clearance from the home defence and was able to drive on unchallenged to fire a shot just wide of goal.

Brash again was next to test Duffield with a move on the left side of the area and his driven ball into the six yard box was fisted away by the Burgh keeper in the 22nd minute.

Burgh’s best move of the first half came on 32 minutes when Trialist A played a brilliant pin-point ball through to Finn McLaren on the left-hand side beating two defenders. The Burgh no.9’s low ball into the box was met first time by Finn Bannerman whose low effort had keeper Sneddon stretch out a hand to save.

Stoneyburn extended their lead just before half time with a neat passing move in the middle of the park before a superb defence-splitting through ball found Mackay who slid the ball beyond the advancing keeper.

The hosts were hungry for goals and had further chances before the break with Sweeney forcing Duffield to push behind, Graham having an effort deflected behind and Sweeney, again, with an overhead effort following a corner that cleared the bar.

On 50 minutes Nichita Cotorobai flicked a ball on into the path of Ryan Daly and his dangerous ball into the box beat the keeper but was hacked away from just in front of goal.

Keeper Duffield was certainly earning his corn when he was faced with Sweeney through on goal and was able to block three efforts from the home striker.

Mackay has been a pain Burgh’s backside for a number of seasons as he netted his about his 10th goal (* I am too depressed to do an exact count as I gave up mid-count!!!) against Burgh – repeating his May 2025 hat-trick – with his second spot kick of the afternoon to make it 3-0 in the 56th minute.

Stoneyburn substitute Furness then decided his mission was to also make Burgh’s life difficult and Duffield had to be at his best to deny a one-on-one chance in the 65th minute.

It didn’t take long for Furness to net as Burgh failed to clear their lines and a brief goalmouth scramble saw Duffield save well again but the ball eventually ending at Furness’ feet to side foot home from close range in the 68th minute.

Burgh were still trying, however, and Bannerman fizzed a long range strike just over the bar in the 72nd minute, whilst sub Kyle Tracey’s header from a corner rebounded off the cross bar and from the scramble, Lyall Brown’s follow up was instinctively pushed behind by Sneddon.

The final goal of the game came in the 89th minute and Stoneyburn made it look all too simple with a slick passing move that cut open the Burgh defence and Furness netted his second off the far post.

Man of the Match: Ethan Stark – along with Ben Duffield, he stood out and gave his best throughout on a difficult afternoon.