As the end of an elongated season comes into view, Musselburgh continue to fight for survival in Premiership rugby.

Saturday's opponents, Dalziel, had started the season well until the weather kicked in and left them with several games in hand to ensure their safety.

The early morning sun had given way to an overcast sky by kick-off, and as David O'Hagan got proceedings under way the home side applied early pressure.

The match was barely a couple of minutes old when Burgh released the ball through the hands for Cook to go over in the corner, but unfortunately for Musselburgh the referee deemed he had been held up and the scoreboard remained blank.

That decision might have affected some teams but Musselburgh in their current league position do not have such luxuries; following several driving mauls Mikey Roy was pushed over for the opening try, which was converted by O'Hagan for 7-0.

The visitors came to life and good forward driving by Ferguson and Sloan saw a fine handling movement before winger Goldie knocked on from a dangerous position, thereby relieving the pressure on Burgh.

This only delayed the inevitable, however, as more good hands put stand-off Ross McAuley over for an unconverted try, thus cutting the Motherwell side's deficit to 7-5.

At this stage the visitors looked to have taken control, with their fine tackling and accurate passing particularly eye-catching. In an attempt to counter, Liam Draycott fielded a kick deep in his own half before charging straight up the middle and setting up a ruck, but Simpson cleared for Dalziel.

A sharp break by McAuley, aided by Calder, released centre Goldie who went over for Dalziel's second try, which was converted by Simpson for 7-12.

Musselburgh were fighting hard but at this point Dalziel were on top and fine forward play by Simmonds and Stewart sent McAuley over for his second try, after using his winger as a decoy before breaking a home tackle. The conversion was unsuccessful, leaving Burgh with a 10-point deficit at 7-17.

As half-time approached, Burgh's recent injury jinx continued and Fraser Sutherland was stretchered off with a suspected broken ankle, just weeks after Ross Young's horrific broken leg at Dunfermline.

As if strengthened by collective misery, Burgh started the second half playing with momentum and purpose and several massive forward drives pushed Roy over again. Another fine conversion by O'Hagan reduced the deficit to three points at 14-17.

The Musselburgh pack by now had wrested back command and Bowman and Slaven were really getting under the visitors' skin. However, it still took a brilliant piece of defence by Willie Fleming to save a certain Dalziel try when he chased down Goldie with the line begging. Musselburgh's forward dominance produced a couple of penalties which O'Hagan missed narrowly, but his touch finding gave Burgh useful field position.

Musselburgh finally got their noses in front for the first time after Slaven released himself from the back of a maul to evade several tackles for a superb opportunist try, converted by O'Hagan for 21-17. Draycott, Cook and Doig all made forays into Dalziel territory and the forwards battered on, more points arriving courtesy of O'Hagan's boot as a penalty increased Burgh's lead to 24-17.

With time running out, the crucial victory for the home side seemed tantalisingly close when they were shocked by a fourth try for Dalziel, by Kris Waters, which earned them another bonus point, but it would not prove enough for a share of the spoils, full-back Simpson missing the conversion to hand Burgh the narrowest of wins.

This was a crucial victory for Burgh, brought about by a fine second-half display and it keeps the team's hopes of survival alive - for the time being.

The victory lifts Burgh out of the relegation zone but a bonus-point win for fellow relegation candidates Perthshire was not good news - nor is the fact both teams below them in the table have games in hand.

That means Burgh will desperately need another win tomorrow (Saturday) when they visit Ardrossan Academicals. The Ayrshire side have faint promotion hopes and will be strong.

Musselburgh: L. Draycott, J. Doig, A. Cook, P. Davis, R. Hook; D. O'Hagan, D. Ritchie; F. Sutherland, F. Millar, G. Hume, W. Fleming, M. Roy, G. Bowman, D. Slaven, P. Brown.