Newburgh completed their 2025/26 home programme with the visit of, arguably, the best side we’ve faced in all three League meetings this season in the form of Edinburgh United.

The early warning signs were there as the visitors took the lead in the 6th minute when a huge kick forward by keeper Barlas caught the Burgh defence on the back foot and Hanratty lofted the ball over Kyles into the net.

Burgh’s first chance came in the 10th minute when Owen McCallion’s ball forward on the edge of the box found brother Andrew, with back to goal, turned but cut his shot across goal under close attention of defender Keenan.

On 15 minutes Ronnie Martin’s free kick into the Edinburgh penalty area was narrowly headed over their own crossbar from a defender. From the resultant corner the ball fell back to Martin who hooked a shot towards the top corner but Barlas spectacularly flung himself to fingertip round the post.

Edinburgh doubled their lead in the 19th minute from a short free-kick on the corner of the Burgh area that was laid back to Mackenzie and his powerful low shot took a deflection on its way to wrong-foot Scott Kyles on its way to make it 2-0.

Things went from bad to worse in the 41st minute as Burgh failed to clear their lines and some neat passing between Hunter and Teviotdale presented a chance for Murray who turned and fired a low shot off the inside of the post into the net.

Newburgh were given a lifeline just before half time as Blair Campbell returned Calum Geddes’ throw back to him and the right back ran to the byline and sent over a perfect cross for Andrew McCallion to side foot home from 6 yards out to make it 1-3.

In the 50th minute Nichita Cotorobai did well to pick up Geddes’ ball near the corner flag before beating his man and firing a low shot which was saved by Barlas at his near post.

It was, effectively, game over in the 54th minute however as Hunter’s free kick on the left found its way to the feet of Keenan at the far post and the United defender bundled the ball over the line.

On 61 minutes Geddes sent over a high ball into the Edinburgh six-yard box that was saw Barlas’ punch only fall as far as Andrew McCallion who twisted and turned but his shot from about 8 yards was always going to be difficult with bodies all around and it went just over the bar.

Burgh gave themselves another life line on 65 minutes as McCallion’s low free kick was flicked on by Ryan Daly near the penalty spot and Kieran Twaddell was quickest to the ball to force home ahead of Barlas to make it 2-4.

For a brief moment there seemed a small chance Burgh could perhaps force their way back into the game and Twaddell’s quick feet saw him fire a powerful low shot that whistled just the wrong side of the post in the 69th minute.

Any hope was short-lived, however, when Edinburgh went on to score what we thought – at the time - was the goal of the game from Mackenzie in the 72nd minute. Hanratty played a ball across the edge of the Burgh area from left to right to Murray. Murray cut inside and then laid back to Mackenzie who took one touch before unleashing a screamer into the top left-hand corner of the net from around 25 yards out giving Kyles no chance.

5-2 became 6-2 a matter of minutes later as a corner from the right found Teviotdale and McCallion challenging for the ball at the far post and the ball found itself heading into the back of the Burgh goal for number six.

Burgh were shell-shocked by a clinical Edinburgh performance in front of goal and the goal of the game was still to come in the 83rd minute as Mackenzie completed his hat-trick in style picking up possession in a similar area to his previous goal and turned and unleashed an absolute rocket that crashed down off the underside of the bar and in to make it 7-2. Full credit to Mackenzie for completing his hat-trick with another sensational strike.

It was a damaging and painful defeat against a very good Edinburgh United side. As I said previously, arguably the best side we have faced this season and they’re fully deserving of their promotion. We congratulate them and wish them well next season.

For Burgh, it still leaves work to be done, however, to cross that line with a proverbial six-pointer on the final day away at Pumpherston.

Man of the Match: Owen McCallion.