Blackburn 3-1 Newburgh

Newburgh.............................1

Newburgh faced Blackburn United in the second round of the The Soccershop Direct South Challenge Cup on Saturday in West Lothian.

Blackburn currently sit in the league above Newburgh in the East of Scotland Premier League.

Newburgh started with Aaron Leadbetter slotted into the middle of the defence in place of the injured Andy Cameron.

Ben Jenkins made his first competitive start for the ‘Burgh in place of Scott Sutherland in the striker role.

On the 4G park at New Murrayfield, Newburgh settled well and moved the ball well with Hutchison and Redpath making an impact on the game early, showing their willingness and ability to get on the ball and make things happen around them.

Newburgh opened the scoring in the ninth minute, a quick free kick was pin point accurate to set Aidan Edwards one on one with the Blackburn keeper.

Edwards managed to pick his spot and slot the ball through the keeper’s legs.

As the half came to a close the home side picked up the pace and began to threaten but with Leadbetter and Clark working well in partnership.

Newburgh made no changes at half time as they looked to keep a hold on the game.

Blackburn had other ideas and a stern half time team talk brought them out of the traps with their tails up.

The home side scored a deserved equaliser in the 50th minute having pressed Newburgh hard from the off.

In the 66th minute a midfield lapse of concentration cost Newburgh. Possession was surrendered just outside the 18-yard box and a speculative shot was whipped up into the corner of the Burgh goal

The game was put out of reach in the 72nd minute when possession again lost cheaply in the midfield allowed a swift counter attack which caught the ‘Burgh defence out. The ball was played across the face of the goal and was turned into the net beyond Sutherland’s reach.

Blackburn were reduced to ten men in the last 10 minutes, the result of an off the ball incident.

Newburgh to their credit continued to push the home side hard looking for a way back onto the game with Sutherland coming close. As the final whistle approached there was no way through for the ‘Burgh. Blackburn used all of their experience and closed the game out in a well-managed fashion.

Scott Hudson was pleaseD with his side’s showing but disappointed to have exited the cup, saying: “We gave as good as we got for a vast majority of the game and but for a couple of errors this could have gone either way. The lads will be disappointed but we see the potential that is there and we will keep on working hard to improve.”

Newburgh: C Sutherland, Johal, Leadbetter, Clark, Scarborough, Hutchison (Nyass72), Redpath (Kinnes 65), Gay (Fraser 65), Edwards, Jenkins (Sutherland 62), Annandale