Match date: 28th September 2022 Kickoff: 7.30 pm

Camelon Juniors FC  1    Dunbar United   1

Dunbar travelled to Carmuirs Park, now known as The Moore Hire Equipment Stadium, Camelon on Wednesday night looking to regroup quickly after a poor performance in the League against Preston Athletic at the weekend. Their task was not made any easier with the unavailability of both Dean Whitson and Darren Handling at a ground where Dunbar have not had the greatest of results in recent years.

The visitors began well and only a fine tackle by Camelon’s Steven Dolan prevented Cammy Dawson a goal scoring opportunity and from the resultant corner Dawson headed over the bar. Mitchell Taylor had a shot saved well by Sean Brennan in the Dunbar goal before Shaun Miler went close for the visitors after a poor clearance by the Camelon keeper.

Dunbar kept pushing forward and in the 35th minute Bob Berry had a shot deflected wide from Ben Bathgate’s cross before the corner was cleared by the Camelon defence for a throw-in. Michael McFarlane’s long throw-in was cleared only as far as Willis Hare on the edge of the box and he wasted no time in blasting the ball high into the net for his first goal in Dunbar colours and give the visitors a deserved one goal lead.

Ben Bathgate and Shaun Miller just failed to connect with two inviting crosses in the next minutes before Camelon had a shot cleared off the line by Grant Thomson before the whistle sounded for half time.

Sean Brennan was called into action four minutes after the restart as Camelon pushed forward looking for the equaliser before Dunbar’s Jordan Hopkinson brought out a great save from the Camelon keeper as the game raged from end to end.

Hopkinson and Ben Bathgate both again went close for Dunbar before Brennan saved a shot with his feet from the dangerous Mitchell Taylor after the Camelon winger drifted past three Dunbar defenders.

Lewis McArthur headed a corner wide in the 68th minute before both sides made numerous substitutions. Camelon looked the more dangerous after that with Dunbar lively on the counter attack and Camelon substitute Kieran Anderson went close seven minutes from time after he anticipated a long ball, controlled the ball well but shot inches wide with the Dunbar defence beaten.

A poor pass back by Camelon’s Steven Dolan almost gifted Dunbar a second goal with two minutes left after his goalkeeper missed the ball but luckily for him the ball missed the goal by inches.

Ironically the home side equalised in the final minute after a low cross was fired across the face of the Dunbar goal before Finlay Mackay controlled the ball at the back post and drilled it low into the corner to give Camelon a share of the points. 

Almost seven minutes of injury time was played after Dunbar’s Cammy Dawson picked up a head injury before the referee brought the game to an end.

Probably a fair result at the end of the day with Dunbar on top in the first half and Camelon having the better of the second half.

Very tiny margins in what is proving to be a very tight League, and Dunbar are still sitting pretty only two points behind the League leaders, Luncarty who pay a visit to New Countess Park, on Saturday with kick-off at 2.30pm. Tickets for the match are on sale via the club’s Fanbase app.

Camelon Juniors FC :- Kyle Wilson, Cole Cattenach, Will Greenhorn, Steven Dolan, Lewis McArthur, Declyn Cumming, Joseph Bevan, Mati Fadzazata, Kyle Sampson, Jonathan Devers, Mitchell Taylor.  

Substitutes :- Kieran Anderson, Lewis Paton, Mark Sharp, Finlay Mackay, Chris Kelly, Jack Simpson, Marc Sludden.

Dunbar United :- Sean Brennan, Michael McFarlane, Kerr Allan, Grant Thomson, Bob Berry, Cammy Dawson, Ben Bathgate, Jordan Hopkinson, Willis Hare, Shaun Miller, Darren Smith.  

Substitutes :- Shea Dowie, James Redpath, Jonny Grotlin, Liam Gregory, Fraser Neave, Aaron Congalton.

Referee :- Chris Hobbs.

Match report courtesy of Laurie Wood.

Mon the Seasiders! ??