Match date: 9th April 2022 Kickoff: 14.30 pm

Broxburn Athletic FC   2   Dunbar United  2

Dunbar United travelled to Albyn Park, Broxburn on Saturday for the first time since May 2009 hoping to continue their three game unbeaten run,  whilst the home side were looking to win their seventh game in a row.

With not a lot of points separating six clubs in the League table,  it was a crucial game for the Dunbar side.  Both teams took time to settle on the artificial surface,  but it was the visitors who created the first chance in the 13th minute with Andy Jones forcing the Broxburn keeper into a save with a shot from the narrowest of angles.

Broxburn’s best effort was on the half hour mark when Andy Mair’s shot was tipped over the bar by Daniel Laing in the Dunbar goal.  Minutes later Dunbar were dealt a blow when young Evan Fleming fell awkwardly on the surface and had to be replaced in defence by Michael McFarlane.  McFarlane almost made an instant impact when he fired over from a corner when it looked easier to score before the half time interval sounded with the score line blank.

Dunbar pushed on after the restart with a Bob Berry shot deflected for a corner and Michael McFarlane’s header was cleared of the line before the same player almost scored again in their next attack but again his header was cleared of the line.

With Dunbar beginning to dictate,  it was the home side who took the lead in the 51st minute after a long ball caught the Dunbar keeper in two minds on the edge of his box and after deciding to kick the ball clear the ball was controlled well by Broxburn’s Andy Mair about 30 yards out before lobbing the ball over the stranded keeper into the net.

Six minutes later and Dunbar scored a well deserved equaliser when Steven Thomson, Bob Berry and Darren Smith created space well on the left of midfield before a ball over the top found Jamie Devlin in space and he fired low into the net past Connor Wallace in the Broxburn goal.

Two minutes later and Michael McFarlane again caused danger in the Broxburn defence with yet another header saved at the second attempt by the home keeper,  but his long clearance fell nicely for Joe Tait on the Broxburn left and after beating his marker his low cross was turned into the Dunbar goal by Gary Brass with a big deflection of the Dunbar keeper to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.

With time running out Dunbar had it all to do again and with twenty minutes remaining they thought they had equalised when Jamie Devlin deftly touched in an Andy Jones cross,  but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Numerous substitutions made by both sides slowed the pace of the game down with Broxburn quite happy to see the game out, and they might well have increased their lead in the final minutes when Andy Mair turned his marker and watched his shot rebound from the post before being cleared to safety.

Dunbar pushed forward at every opportunity and their pressure finally paid off in the 91st minute after a long throw in by Michael McFarlane was controlled well by substitute Jaciz Balde on the edge of the box and he fired low into the net through a ruck of players to give Dunbar a well deserved share of the points.

Another hard earned point for Dunbar again coming from behind twice and with every vital point gained,  this one might well have an influence on the relegation issues at the end of the season.

Six League games left for Dunbar and another away game next Saturday against Musselburgh Athletic for another East Lothian derby day at Olivebank,  with kick-off at the slightly later time of 3 pm.

Broxburn Athletic FC :- Connor Wallace, Craig Newall, Gordon Donaldson, Shaun Harrison, Dan Nimmo, David Greenhill, Joe Tait, Andy Gillen, Gary Brass, Jackson Barker, Andy Mair. 

Substitutes :- Greg Nicol, Michael Beagley.

Dunbar United :- Daniel Laing, Grant Thomson, Jamie Devlin, Bob Berry, Steven Thomson, Darren Handling, Andy Jones, Fraser Neave, Evan Fleming, Darren Smith, Dean Whitson.

Substitutes :- Ryan Mack, Michael McFarlane, Ben Bathgate, Scott Hay, Jaciz Balde

Referee :- Kenny Brown.

Match report courtesy of Laurie Wood.

Photos by Dave Black.