Burgh concluded the 2025/26 seeking to pick up the point needed to guarantee promotion at the hands of the side who could swap places with them on the final day. As it transpired, thanks to results elsewhere, both sides would seal promotion.

Despite a number of absentees in defence, Burgh were delighted to welcome back Mackenzie Williamson who had been out injured since December and we was a timely boost.

It was Burgh that applied the early pressure and Williamson made his first impact in the 5th minute when Andrew McCallion’s ball found the big man to take a touch and fire a shot that was blocked by the legs of keeper Thomson.

On 7 minutes Ryan Daly managed to hold off the attentions of three Pumpherston defenders around him to get his shot away but unfortunately just wide of target.

From the resultant goal kick, Thomson’s mis-kick fell to McCallion who ran on towards goal, but the home keeper was out quickly to challenge and save the day for the hosts.

Pumpherston’s first chance of note can in the 17th minute after a throw-in on the right found its way to Howe on the edge of the area, but his shot through a crowd of bodies caused Scott Kyles’ no troubles as it cleared the crossbar.

The home side should have perhaps taken the lead in the 35th minute when Sankhour was played through on goal by Amhanre but somehow lifted his shot over the advancing Kyles and the bar too.

Four minutes later Howe did well to work some space and fire a low shot just wide of the far post as Pumpherston were enjoying a good spell of pressure.

But Williamson and McCallion got back to the old routine and Mack’s header flicked on for Burgh’s top scorer to send a first time shot that Thomson parried behind for a corner just before the break.

Pumpherston took the lead in the 56th minute following a corner on the right when Amhanre’s header was blocked on the line but the ball fell back to the Pumpherston striker who smashed home the rebound from close range.

Burgh had Kyles to thank for stopping the lead being doubled on 59 minutes when he got down well with a strong hand to push away Howe’s powerful low shot from the edge of the area.

At the other end Burgh nearly levelled on the hour mark when Rhys Sneddon’s corner found Blair Campbell who rose high and craned his neck to head against the bar.

The equaliser came on 65 minutes after Duff’s pass to Williamson in the middle of the park saw the Burgh man clattered by Forrest about six yards from the edge of the area.

McCallion stepped up to take to the free kick as the Pumpherston wall split and his powerful shot flew low past Thomson to make it 1-1 for his 35th goal of the season.

No sooner had Burgh levelled, they were back behind again with a goal that was nearly identical to the opener. Amhanre again rose to head the corner goalwards and Dunn managed to flick past Kyles from about 2 yards out.

On 75 minutes Burgh went close to levelling the game again when Campbell did well to flick a ball through to McCallion who pushed the ball through to sub Owen McNally for a chance on goal but the ball appeared to take a slight bobble as he shot and the ball went off target.

McCallion had another free kick chance in the 80th minute, albeit from the left-hand side of the area. His low shot went through a crowd of bodies as Thomson scrambled down to get a hand to it and push it across goal. Finn Bannerman was quickest to it but had a difficult chance to meet his shot on the turn with a defender in close proximity and another on the line and was unable to hook it in enough from a tight angle.

On 84 minutes Cammy Newsome slid a defence-splitting ball that sent Kieran Twaddell through goal but Thomson raced out of his area to block with his feet well.

The game ended with the hosts holding on to their lead which saw them complete promotion, whilst Burgh had to wait 30 minutes for results elsewhere to guarantee their achievements for a hard-working season that, sadly didn’t conclude quite as hoped with a difficult and compact run of games.

Ultimately, however, promotion was achieved and the team have worked very hard this season and there has been many highs and lows throughout the campaign but it’s mission accomplished. Congratulations to Pumpherston, also, on their success.

Man of the Match: Cammy Newsome.