It was 4th vs 3rd at East Shore Park with the visitors four points ahead going into the match but with Burgh having the “luxury” of five games in hand on their opponents.

Once again, the match was heavily influenced by the joys of Scottish weather. But, unlike last week, it still brought out a tense, passionate and entertaining game with both sides going full tilt for the points.

It was Livingston who got the game off to a lively start with two good chances in the opening 4 minutes of the game, with one being deflected over by the lunging leg of Cammy Newsome and another shot over.

At the other end a moment later, a beautifully dinked ball over the Livingston defence by Blair Campbell put Andrew McCallion through but the Burgh striker wasn’t able to trouble keeper Baxter.

Thoughts of a goal-fest with a bright start for both sides seemed likely, but somehow the goals never materialised. On 9 minutes McCallion was again looking for goal number 28 of a highly productive season as Calum Geddes played a ball forward. The Burgh striker cut inside and fired a low shot but Baxter was down well to save.

On 19 minutes Burgh had Newsome to thank again for saving the day as a corner from the left was headed goalwards but Cammy was on hand to head off the line. Burgh couldn’t clear the danger and a rasping shot from Kelly just went over the bar.

The hosts then had a spell of pressure and following a corner from the left by McCallion, Callum Roughead rose highest but couldn’t get over the ball to keep his header on target in the 29th minute.

On 32 minutes a floated central free kick from Ronnie Martin found Campbell’s head but a combination of the goalkeeper and defender MacDonald hacked clear, with the keeper coming off worst picking up a hand injury that required treatment.

The weather appeared to have taken a turn for the worse as the second half got under way, but it didn’t stop two teams pushing hard for the opening goal. In the opening minute of the restart, McCallion picked up a return ball from his initial corner to fire a shot into the arms of Baxter.

In the 50th minute, a Kelly shot into the ground towards the Burgh goal managed to deflect just wide of the goal for a corner.

At the other end Campbell again played through McCallion on goal and it was an excellent fingertip save from Baxter that should have forced a corner, but somehow the referee didn’t seem to see the save and awarded a goal kick.

The home side were indebted to keeper Scott Kyles in the 64th minute following a brief goalmouth scramble, with the loose ball coming to the edge of the area for McIver to fire a shot through a crowd of bodies but somehow Kyles was able to push it away well.

Credit to both sides who continued to produced a committed and entertaining game in difficult conditions and an increasingly heavy pitch as the rain continued to pour down. McCallion again had a chance in the 77th minute with a turn and shot but a desperate block saved the visitors after good work by Ryan Daly.

Owen McCallion was having his usual combative game in the middle of the pitch getting through a lot of work and his endeavours created a rasping shot just wide of the far post in the 82nd minute as the search for that elusive goal in the game.

It was brother Andrew’s turn to have come the closest, so far, when Geddes’ ball into the box found McCallion who held off his man and turned inside to unleash a powerful shot that looked destined for the corner of the net but instead cannoned off the post in the 86th minute.

Both sides continued to battle to the bitter end in the search of the opening, and surely winning, goal and as the clock hit 90 minutes McInnes weaved towards Burgh goal and sent a shot goalwards that Kyles somehow managed to flick away.

In the 3rd minute of stoppage time a ball forward by Logan Duff was knocked on by McCallion for Campbell to run onto and fire a shot into the corner that somehow Baxter got his hand to save for a corner. It was a great save from the visiting keeper at a crucial moment.

Unfortunately for the keeper, it was all undone from the result keeper as Martin’s corner from the right found substitute Cammy Taylor unmarked and he stooped to head goalwards. Baxter and Barclay seemed to get in each other’s way trying to clear and the ball bounced between both’s attempted clearances and into the net.

Taylor ran away in celebration and was quickly mobbed by his team-mates and substitutes from the bench in the sort of celebration that marked such an important goal in a hard-fought match.

As I said, credit to both Burgh and Livingston for putting on a good, entertaining game in difficult conditions and the late goal was heart-breaking for the visitors who looked a very good side. But it was an important three points for Newburgh to make amends for the disappointment of the previous week.

Man of the Match: A number of candidates, but defender Callum Roughead shone the brightest with a solid display alongside his defensive colleagues.