Stoneyburn 3 Burgh 1

Newburgh travelled through to West Lothian after another enforced weather disruption since our last game.

The weather turned bad again shortly before kick off, but a heavy pitch survived for the match to go ahead.

There action inside the first 40 seconds as a Stoneyburn ball forwarded deflected off their own player and set Andy McCallion through on goal towards the right-hand side of the area. The Burgh man was bundled to the ground on the edge of the area but the referee deemed it only a yellow and just outside the box.

On 5 minutes Ryan Daly a driving run on the left-hand side was laid off to Finn Bannerman who took one touch before his shot was deflected behind for a corner.

On 10 minutes another fortuitous ricochet set McCallion through towards goal again. This time the Burgh made got an early shot away but the keeper parried and a defender cleared the danger.

It was a bright start from Burgh, but the opening goal came slightly against the run of play as a deep free kick from half way by McConnell was punched away by keeper Scott Kyles but fell to Roberston who floated a ball into the six yard box and Sweeney was on hand to stoop for one of the lowest headers you will see to nod home on 20 minutes.

Burgh were still looking good and now pressing for that equaliser, with Owen McCallion having a long-range effort just go low past the post in the 23rd minute.

The equaliser did come, however, and it came from the typical source of Andrew McCallion who picked up Daly’s initial pass that was deftly flicked on by Nichita Cotorobai to run on and dink over the advancing keeper for his 24th goal of the season.

On 41 minutes Cotorobai latched onto a long kick by Kyles that beat the head of a defender to fire a first-time shot wide of the near post.

As the second half started Burgh missed a golden chance to take the lead after Andy McCallion picked up a stray backpass to set up Bannerman who couldn’t find the target from close range.

Stoneyburn instead grew stronger in the game and Sweeney flicked home a low ball from the right into the far corner of the net with a smart finish in the 54th minute.

This time Burgh weren’t able to get back into it, unfortunately, and the hosts went from strength to strength as a cross from the right went right across to the left side of the area and was returned by Cameron who found the Burgh defence AWOL and Mackay had the freedom of the box to plant a header beyond an exposed Kyles in the Burgh goal for 3-1 in the 72nd minute.

Burgh sub Owen McNally had two chances in two minutes in the final 10 minutes, but was unable to find the target under pressure, whilst Andy McCallion’s flicked header in the 86th minute landed on the roof of the net.

It was a disappointing result for Burgh and some uncharacteristic goals conceded after a good start to the game in difficult conditions against a good Stoneyburn side.

Man of the Match: Ryan Daly – a lot of good driving runs and hard work.