Harthill Royal 6-2 Newburgh

Burgh bundle the ball home - but it was one of the few highlights of the game. Pic by Graham Strachan.

On a very difficult surface it was Harthill who took the lead in the 16th minute when Johnston outpaced the defence to slot the ball past Sutherland.

Newburgh rallied and played some good football going forward with Hughes and Hastie’s pace testing the home defence.

Newburgh’s equaliser came from a in the 23rd minute.

A perfect cross was delivered by Hughes and met by Fraser moving at pace to head the ball powerfully into the home side’s net.

In testing conditions, the game became dis-jointed with neither team able to create chances.

However, as half time approached it was Newburgh who finally managed to make the break through.

The sprightly Hughes latched on to a long through ball outpacing his marker to drive in towards goal.

The Harthill keeper charged out of his box but Hughes slipped the ball past him and bore in on the empty goal slotting the ball into the net to give Newburgh the lead as half time approached.

As he teams started the second half the heavy rain abated but the pitch was very heavy and with the strong wind behind them Harthill pressed Newburgh back from the off.

Newburgh were losing the battle in the middle of the park and it was only a matter of time until the home side breached the ‘Burgh back line.

The equalising goal came on the 62nd minute and from then on in the home side were on the front foot.

Newburgh held out until the 71st minute when the home side took the lead.

Harthill added further goals in the 78th, 82nd and 88th minutes.

Newburgh: Sutherland, Johal, Nicol, Meaney, Milton (Porteous 82), Robinson, Hutchison, Fraser (Stapleton 67), Smart, Hastie, MacBride.