Newburgh welcomed fellow promotion chasers – and Fife neighbours – Cowdenbeath Central to East Shore Park for their first visit since joining the East of Scotland set up during the summer.

East Shore Park was looking in good shape as it was bolstered with a larger crowd than normal for the only game of the day with Groundhoppers welcomed from all over Europe. ‘Hoppers’ from Belgium, Germany, Austria and Holland were just a few of the international visitors to a small town in Fife. Hopefully all the neutrals (along with our home fans) enjoyed their afternoon.

For Cowdenbeath, however, it wasn’t to be the case as their cause took a disastrous start when a wayward backpass set Andy McCallion through on goal before he was taken out on the edge of the area in only the 3rd minute by ‘Blue Brazil’ captain Lee Dawson.

There were no complaints (other than towards his own team mates) and little other option for the referee but to brandish the red card and an early bath. From the resultant free kick, Ronnie Martin was the first to test the gloves of ex-Burgh keeper David Chalmers.

Whilst Dawson’s afternoon was ended early, so was his unfortunate colleague Stewart as he was forced to make way as manager Goldie reorganised his side moments later.

Cowden’s day went from bad to worse as Burgh made the breakthrough in the 7th minute. Kyle Tracey, who had his best game in a Burgh shirt, played a short throw to Mackenzie Williamson down the right flank and the big man sent over a trademark pinpoint cross towards the far post to be met by Ryan Daly who kept his composure to volley home from about 8 yards out.

In the 14th minute McCallion got onto a long free kick by keeper Scott Kyles to turn and fire a blistering shot just over the crossbar, whilst in the 23rd minute McCallion twisted and turned inside the Cowdenbeath area before firing a ball across goal that was deflected over the bar by a defender.

McCallion wasn’t to be beaten, however, as from the corner by Martin the Burgh marksman was on hand at the near post to flick beyond Chalmers to double Newburgh’s lead and net his 21st of the season.

Credit to the visitors, however, who could have easily thrown in the towel but they didn’t as they battled away to try and get back into the game and forced Kyles into a couple of good saves.

Unfortunately for Burgh, one of their own was to have a premature end to their afternoon as scorer Daly limped off on the half hour mark to be replaced by Blair Campbell.

Tracey and Williamson were combining well on the right and another cross from the latter found the head of McCallion who couldn’t quite trouble Chalmers.

Cowden were still looking dangerous and on 34 minutes Spence’s persistence paid off with a good low drive that had Kyles down to save at his near post well.

Burgh found the target in the 36th minute after Tracey played a ball down the line to McCallion who laid off to Williamson. The big Burgh wide man played another telling cross into the box to Finn Bannerman who cleverly touched it on and turned his man to fire a clinical shot past Chalmers with his second touch.

The half time blew an end to an excellent first half display from the hosts, whilst the visitors needing a pep talk and an early goal if they were going to get back into the game in the second half. A treble half time change from the visitors brought about the return of the second ex-Burgh man of the afternoon as full back Adam Wilson entered the fray.

As the second half got under way, a battling move between Campbell and Tracey set McCallion away again and his first and second shots were dealt with well by Chalmers.

Cammy Taylor and Callum Roughead were doing a solid job in the heart of the Burgh defence restricting any attempts at Kyles goal, but in the 48th minute Coventry got a strike away on goal from about 10 yards that was saved well by Kyles.

It was to be Newburgh, however, that got that crucial first goal of the second half in the 55th minute. A long throw by Roughead was headed out of the area but fell to Tracey who headed back over the visiting defence for Bannerman to flick on for Taylor. The Burgh number 4’s effort was saved well at close range by Chalmers but fell to Bannerman who made no mistake dispatching home the loose ball to make it 4-0.

On 71 minutes the visitors managed to get on the scoresheet from the spot after Williamson and Coventry appeared to tangle just inside the Burgh area and the referee pointed to the spot. Yapoudjian managed to find the corner just past the fingers of Kyles’ dive.

On 83 minutes Cowden had another chance but as the ball rolled across the box, Yapoudjian appeared to lose his footing briefly before keeping his composure to fire a shot just over the bar.

It was a clinical Burgh display with good team performances all over the park. Bannerman took both his goals well, as did Daly for the opener. Tracey and Williamson worked well down the right, with some teasing crosses from the latter. Owen McCallion and Kian Beattie both put in a tigerish performance in the middle of the park, whilst Taylor, Roughead and the defence held firm throughout.

It was a vital three points in a League that continues to threaten to go to the wire with only 3 points separating 6 teams all in the pursuit of leaders Hawick who are 11 points clear of Burgh in second place – but having played 2 games more and still to visit East Shore Park. It could be a tasty match up.

But there’s still a long way to go and thoughts will move to the next game, as 2026 starts with a trip to the Capital to face Edinburgh United at Paties Road.

Man of the Match: Kyle Tracey.