After the high of substitute Cammy Taylor’s injury time winner against Livingston the previous Saturday, this time it was a far less, by comparison, epic late substitute goal from Owen McNally to rescue a point that had looked, after the opening 20 or so minutes, like being all three.

Come season’s end, McNally’s strike could prove to be as equally as significant as Taylor’s from a game that should have been done and dusted before the substitute weaved his way through a number of tackles to roll home that 90th minute leveller.

The game shouldn’t have needed the conclusion it did for the visitors as they raced off the blocks with Ryan Daly racing through in the opening minute before a last-ditch challenge by Stevenson prevented him getting his shot away.

Then on 4 minutes Calum Geddes picked up a loose clearance to send a left-foot shot just over the bar from 25 yards out.

The opening goal came in the 16th minute when Blair Campbell’s cross was deflected upwards by Stevenson and Andrew McCallion’s back flick header provided a chance for Daly was parried by Ormiston keeper Matthews. The keeper couldn’t pick himself up quick enough and Campbell was on hand to rise and head home from close range.

Burgh doubled their lead in the 20th minute when a Ronnie Martin corner found Andrew McCallion unmarked in the six-yard box and the marksman wasn’t going to miss such an opportunity as he headed home.

That should have been game, set and match but somehow Burgh let the hosts back into the game and in the 31st minute Thomson was put through on the right-hand side and he neatly slotted past Scott Kyles to reduce the deficit.

There still shouldn’t have been too much cause for concern as Burgh started the second half brightly with McCallion put through on goal but Matthews was out well to dive at the striker’s feet in the 49th minute.

A minute later Martin’s inswinging corner nearly caught the keeper out as he managed to stretch to tip behind for another corner.

But somehow the home side found themselves on level terms with a smart move saw a ball looped over the Burgh defence for Thomson to divert a shot past the advancing Kyles for Cooney to run onto a complete to make it 2-2.

Campbell saw a looping header again tipped over by Matthews in the 58th minute, before Owen McCallion met a shot well from outside the area but unfortunately it curled away from target moments later.

There was controversy in the 66th minute as Ormiston set up for a free kick centrally in the Burgh half. Primrose captain Aitken ran up to join the attack for the set piece before shoving Logan Duff and having words with Daly. Before the kick was taken he then swung a punch at Duff. The referee was aware of something but the Ormiston defender can consider himself very lucky not to be walking.

Further injustice followed as Aitken then “won” the penalty from the resultant free kick into the Burgh area and then stepped up to give the hosts the lead from the spot. From being villain, who shouldn’t have been on the pitch that point, he went to win and score the penalty!

From being comfortably 2-0 up, Burgh now found themselves behind and looking to salvage something from the game. Daly was thwarted again by Matthews whilst McCallion’s free kick narrowly cleared the crossbar as Newburgh sought to find an equaliser.

As manager Healy shuffled his back and employed more attacking resources, it presented Ormiston with chances on the break and in the 80th minute flashed another warning shot across the face of Kyles’ goal.

Kieran Twaddell attempted to be Burgh’s substitute saviour, but his 84th minute header from a Calum Robertson cross looped just over the Ormiston crossbar as time continued to run out.

The equaliser did come, however, with slightly less celebrated than the Livingston game, but just as important as Martin’s free kick was lofted into the Ormiston area in the 90th minute and headed only as far as McNally who managed to weave himself between two challenges in quick succession before avoiding a third.

As a fourth tackle was about to come in on the edge of the area, the Burgh sub managed to get a low shot away. Whilst it didn’t appear to be the cleanest strike, it did manage to do its job and caught out Matthews to creep in at the near post and make it 3-3.

The drama wasn’t quite finished, however, and there was still time for the hosts to pick up that belated red card they should have received earlier as Lang theatrically fell in the box and was shown a second yellow for his efforts.

There was nearly a very late twist, though, as Black was somehow put through on goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time with just Kyles to beat. With the keeper sprinting out to narrow the angle, the Ormiston striker somehow scooped his effort just over the bar – much to the relief of Burgh.

It was a disappointing outcome from a game that looked to be heading in a comfortable direction and an important lesson for the team to learn from as we enter a busy spell of games until the season’s conclusion.

Man of the Match: Ronnie Martin.