Improving ’Burgh are on an upward curve

AT the halfway stage of the season, candidates for the most-improved team in the North League must be Newburgh.

Toiling badly last season, they won just three games in finishing second bottom.

However, a change of committee and the subsequent appointment of Paul Martin as manager shortly before the end of the season have rejuvenated the club.

There was no instant panacea but hard work, both on and off the pitch, is now paying dividends. Just one point from their opening seven league games underlines that.

Signs of an upturn in fortunes came when they were narrowly beaten 4-3 by Tranent in a remarkable Fife & Lothians Cup tie after being three up on the Premier League side.

The arrival of Gavin Thomson (Downfield), Ross Cunningham (St Andrews United) and Frankie Lannan (Broughty Athletic) added quality to an improving squad and that has been reflected in results.

Indeed, Thomson has been a scoring sensation, averaging almost two goals a game as ’Burgh picked up 15 out of a possible 21 points, scoring 25 goals in the process.

Not content with their already-impressive improvement which sees them sit midtable at the festive break, East Shore gaffer Martin hopes to make further additions to his squad as he looks to maintain the new-found momentum.