The game started at a good pace, and Burgh looked sharp out the blocks.

Right from the off, a fantastic ball across the D from new signing Colin Fairbairn was just missed at the back post by J. Cox.

With Helensburgh on top early on, a goal was required to settle the team down. Fantastic build up play from Kennedy led to a J. Caulfield chance but his shot was well saved.

Kennedy was at the heart of the midfield all game and he got a shot off mid-way through the first half which wriggled under the Kelburne keeper where B. Cox lay in wait to hand Burgh a 1-0 lead early on.

At the other end, McWilliam was proving vital in defence, with Kelburne struggling to break him down.

Black had a fantastic pass out to Fairbairn who was tearing up the right wing. His cross was just missed by J. Caulfield and Kelburne looked to restart.

Caulfield was alert enough and the restart was well blocked by the experienced striker who coolly slotted the ball past the oncoming keeper to J. Cox to double the advantage.

At 2-0 up, Helensburgh looked comfortable and they deserved their lead. McGregor was keeping a clean sheet in goal with simple but effective goalkeeping.

The half time words from the captain were to keep doing the same, but convert more chances.

Kelburne looked a different team in the second half and Burgh had to dig in to keep their clean sheet intact.

But it wasn’t to be as an unmarked Kelburne striker found a yard of space to reduce the deficit.

Kelburne capitalised on Burgh’s mistakes and again had the space to find a second goal, thanks to yet another unmarked player.

The second half wasn’t all doom and gloom, with Hartopp showing excellent promise down the left.

His pass to B. Cox left the veteran enough time to lift an audacious shot just over the bar — much to the frustration of his teammates.

Burgh went down to 10 men for two minutes as the captain received the sin bin for back chat.

Kelburne had upped the pace and shifted gears much to Helensburgh’s dismay — and stole the game right from under Burgh noses as a short corner found the top of the goal.

Helensburgh did have two clear cut second-half chances, with J. Cox and J. Caulfield both in two-on-one situations — but they could not capitalise.

Another chance to equalise was also missed as Caulfield rounded the keeper, only to see his shot spectacularly saved off of the line by a Kelburne defender.

Kelburne killed of the game with a fourth goal — again with an unmarked man finding the net.

It was a day to rue missed chances as the Burgh side trooped off wondering what went wrong in a devasting second-half display.

Helensburgh take on undefeated and top of the side Western, at home next week, the tie is set for a 12.15pm pushback at Hermitage.