The Burgh travelled down to the Borders for the visit to league leaders Hawick on Saturday on a bright afternoon in a busy area of the town where the host’s rugby next-door-neighbours were also in action at home.

A look at the league table would suggest a daunting game against a side with an impeccable away record, but, unusually, it was their home form that wasn’t quite as formidable. Either way, Burgh were going to be in for a testing game.

The opening chance of the game fell to the visitors in the 9th minute after a ball forward by Matty Mitchell found Ryan Daly centrally outside the Hawick area and he turned towards goal to unleash a shot just off target.

A few moments a good passing move from Hawick presented Uwandu with a low shot from distance that was comfortably gathered by Scott Kyles.

The home side did, however, take the lead in the 21st minute when a ball from the left eluded everyone except for Hawick’s top scorer Fowler at the back post to fire home from close range.

In the 29th minute Burgh were awarded a free kick slightly to the left hand side edge of the penalty area. Mackenzie Williamson’s low free kick beat the jumping Hawick wall and headed towards keeper Newman before Andrew McCallion nipped in to win possession. But as keeper and striker met, the keeper clipped the striker who had just got in fractionally ahead of Newman and the referee pointed to the spot.

Skipper Fowler was booked for his protests at the award and everyone lined up for the spot kick. Hawick defender Gray appeared to see the red mist at the edge of the area and was shown a yellow card. Unfortunately, he didn’t calm down and after pushing a team mate away he picked up a 2nd yellow in as many seconds for his complaints and he exited the pitch.

After all the kerfuffle had calmed down, McCallion got back to the action and sent Newman the wrong way from the spot to make it 1-1 with 33 minutes on the clock with his 15th goal of the season.

The numerical change forced the home side into a change, but they seemed to start playing better football and before half time had two great chances to restore the lead, had it not been for the excellent reflexes of Kyles in the Burgh goal.

In the 43rd minute Olusoji weaved his way between a couple of challenges to put himself in on goal and fire a powerful shot that was palmed away by the Burgh keeper.

A minute later Kyles went one better diving low to somehow get a hand to a low shot to push behind from Gillan. It looked destined for the bottom corner but was an amazing instinctive save from the Burgh keeper.

As the clock ticked down to half time, a good move saw Ronnie Martin, Daly and Finn Bannerman combine on the left hand side. Bannerman turned back outside and passed to Daly on the wing who sent over a dangerous first-time ball into the six-yard box that found Mitchell unmarked at the far post to slam home his first goal of the season.

Newburgh stepped up a gear in the second half and McCallion battled well to win a high ball to turn and fire a shot into the palms of Newman in the 52nd minute.

On 54 minutes, good play between McCallion and Daly caused problems in the home defence with Daly’s cross dropped by Newman and half-cleared by a defender but only as far as Williamson on the edge of the box who turned to dink a shot onto the roof of the net.

On 60 minutes Williamson did well to nip in intercept a ball from Newman to a defender and run on, but his cross was a little ahead of McCallion to net. Moments later Burgh had a free kick on the edge of the area as Kian Beattie was fouled by Tansey. Martin’s free kick was a little too high to trouble Newman in the Hawick goal.

Newburgh got their reward for a bright start to the second half in the 62nd minute when a great move was started in defence by Cammy Taylor moved forward to play a defence-splitting ball for McCallion to run onto. Newman raced from goal outside his area and, this time, beat the striker to it but the ball fell to Daly about 10 yards outside the area and he cooly lofted a ball into the exposed goal from distance to make it 3-1.

Three minutes later Daly nearly had his second with a solo effort that started from the edge of his own penalty area. After picking up a ball he ran on and outstripped any players chasing him and made his way towards the opposite goal. The Burgh no.7 entered the Hawick box before pulling the trigger on a shot that whistled past the far post with the keeper beaten.

Burgh were looking good for the win, but still needed to concentrate against the leaders who are always a threat.

On 74 minutes a Martin corner from the right ended up with Nichita Cotorobai at the far side of the penalty area, and he played a ball back across that found Taylor who turned and shot just wide from about 12 yards out.

On 81 minutes Burgh thought they had a fourth goal but it was chalked off for offside as McCallion’s flicked header came back off the post and was tapped home by Cotorobai but the Burgh substitute was in an offside position at the point of the initial header.

Beattie then went close from the edge of the area in the closing minutes but his shot went just over.

It was a superb win from Burgh against a difficult and physical opponent who are clearly top of the table on merit. In a division that is excruciatingly tight, wins like this are important. Speaking with the Hawick manager before the game, it’s a league where a couple of wins or defeats in a row has the power to significantly alter your league position where only 5 points separate 2nd place with 3rd from bottom (9th) in the table.

Man of the Match: Cammy Newsome – another colossal performance across the 90 minutes in both midfield and at full back.

Full Photo Collection: J19 Photography vs. Hawick Royal Albert (A) - 25/10/25