Vale of Leithen were the visitors to East Shore Park on Saturday for the first of two meetings in four days, by the quirks of fixture scheduling and a disrupted winter period.

The sides had met in August where a first half 2-0 Burgh lead was wiped out in the last minute by Vale before an 95th minute Andrew McCallion strike completed his hat-trick and 3 points for Andy Healy’s men.

It was the visitors that had the first chance at goal when a fortuitous cross from Masson appeared to get caught up in the wind and had keeper Scott Kyles scurrying back to push onto the bar in the 10th minute.

At the other end, in the 12th minute, good play on the right from Calum Geddes, Ryan Heatherill and Blair Campbell set up an opportunity from distance for Owen McCallion, but his effort didn’t pose too much trouble for McLean in the Vale goal.

On 18 minutes Masson won possession and sent a low ball into the Burgh area for Brydon to turn and fire a shot that was deflected behind for a corner.

The opening goal arrived in the 20th minute, and through a usual source, as Callum Roughead’s long throw into the Vale of Leithen box was nodded on into the far corner of the net by striker Andrew McCallion for his 29th goal of the campaign, and 20th in the League.

Three minutes later and Campbell’s persistence nearly created a chance for himself before the ball was cleared to the edge of the area for Daly to run on and fire a low shot just past the far post.

Moments later Burgh were indebted to Willie Laing, making his first appearance since September, when his lunging boot stopped Kivlichan getting an opportunity at goal just inside the penalty area. From the resultant corner, Kivlichan was to get a head to loop just past the far post.

On 36 minutes a quick break by the visitors found Houten who turned inside and fired a low shot rolling just past Kyles’ far post.

Burgh started the second half stronger and looked like the side most likely to get the next goal but it took until the 67 minutes for the first serious chance for either side as Rhys Sneddon’s deep free kick was headed across the area by McCallion and Campbell’s header at goal fell into the grateful arms of the keeper.

Minutes later and Daly had a great chance after he robbed possession just outside the Vale area but as he ran on towards goal with the keeper racing out, he chose the unselfish pass to McCallion who was adjudged offside when the young left-sided player may have been better going on himself to shoot.

But the young man made amends moments later in a goal that owed much to striker McCallion’s brother, Owen’s persistence running onto a superb through-ball by Geddes to run on and harass Vale defender Mitchell to fall and try claiming a foul. The referee was not convinced and McCallion ran in from the right side of the area before playing a pass on a plate for Daly to knock home at the back post for 2-0.

Newburgh were passing the ball around well at this stage as they looked for a third to kill off the game. Again Geddes picked up a pass to send a deep ball towards the back post for Newsome. Unfortunately the Burgh man couldn’t quite find his feet quick enough to smash home and instead his shot went over the bar in the 73rd minute.

Laing then had Burgh’s next chance in the 74th minute when his header from an Andrew McCallion corner looped over the crossbar.

Kyles had a lucky escape in the 81st minute when a long free kick forward by his opposite number seemed to bounce up strangely and loop over the Burgh keeper’s fingertips. Thankfully Laing was on hand to put off the striker finishing as his shot cannoned off the post. But moments later Kyles raced to the edge of his area to pounce on a ball at the feet of Bowers.

Credit to Vale as they continued to battle and look to get in the game with pressure on the Burgh goal and following a corner in the 88th minute that seemed to pinball around the box, it fell to Vale sub Joyce to fire a shot that Kyles somehow got his fingers to touch over the bar from point blank range.

There was more pinball bumper chaos from the next corner as McBride’s floated ball back into the box and rebounded off bodies, and seemingly off the arm of eventual scorer Bolochoweckyj from Mitchell’s shot before coming back to him and he fired home to set up a nervy finish.

There was still time for a bit of drama in injury time as the visitors chased an equaliser. As the players lined up for a throw in, Kivlichan and Beattie jostled for positions with the Vale forward pushing Beattie in the back on a number of occasions.

The action drew the official’s attention as he called both players forward. To everyone’s surprise – including Burgh’s Beattie – the referee flashed a straight red card at Kivlichan. As players from both sides looked around and protests from the visitors, it was appeared the official believed he had seen a headbutt.

As a shocked Kivlichan started to leave the field, credit must be given to Kian Beattie who was equally shocked as he informed the referee that nothing of that nature had happened at all and he stuck up for his opponent. Credit also to the official for being big enough to listen and correct his decision, thanks to the honesty of the players around – particularly Kian – and the game finished 11 vs 11.

The full time whistle sounded a few moments later and Burgh held out to secure a tough 2-1 win against good opponents who showed the challenge that they pose again on Tuesday.

Man of the Match – Callum Roughead. Another excellent display at the heart of the defence to continued his good personal run of form.