Match date: 13th August 2022 Kickoff: 2.30 pm
Dunbar United 2 Burntisland Shipyard FC 0
Dunbar United were looking to maintain their good start to their League campaign when Burntisland Shipyard visited New Countess Park on Saturday on the back of a midweek 5-1 Cup win against Fauldhouse United. The Dunbar management had to reshuffle their selection with three players unavailable, three more injured and a late morning call off through illness from James Redpath.
Dunbar started the game well and nice link up play from Aaron Congalton and Darren Handling saw Johnny Edmond fire over the bar before Darren Handling went close with a header from a Dunbar corner.
Burntisland settled into the game and might well have taken the lead in the 17th minute when a deep looping cross from the right was headed towards the bottom corner by Darryl Anthon, but Sean Brennan in the Dunbar goal produced a brilliant full stretch save to deny Burntisland the lead.
Dunbar upped their game after this fright, and a Fraser Neave shot was deflected for a corner before Ben Bathgate struck the base of the post from the tightest of angles. Jordan Hopkinson went close for Dunbar before Dean Whitson headed narrowly over the bar after another Dunbar corner.
The visitors Daniel Thomson turned his marker neatly in the 36th minute, but his effort was cleared by the Dunbar defence before Dunbar wasted two great chances to take the lead minutes before half time.
Firstly great play by Johnny Edmond on the right saw his cut back missed by a Burntisland defender and Jordan Hopkinson somehow scooped the ball over the bar before Edmond himself was left in the clear after anticipating a Whitson head flick but his point blank shot was kept out by Scott Costello in the Burntisland goal.
The Dunbar pressure eventually paid off four minutes after the restart when Ben Bathgate ran clear on the left and squared for Johnny Edmond to control the ball and fire home from inside the box to give Dunbar a well deserved lead.
Tempers began to get a bit heated after this with the referee having to dish out some yellow cards to either side before Darren Smith forced Costello into another save after being played in by Edmond. Minutes later Johnny Edmond went close to increasing the Dunbar lead but his shot was deflected for a corner.
Jordan Hopkinson was replaced by new signing Jonny Grotlin in the 67th minute and the striker had a fairytale start to his Dunbar career two minutes later when Ben Bathgate intercepted a short pass back from a Burntisland defender, and with only the keeper to beat the ball broke to Grotlin who fired home with his first ever touch of the ball to give the hosts a two goal advantage and make him an instant favourite with the home support.
Cammy Dawson replaced Johnny Edmond and young Calum Richards from Dunbar United Under 20s replaced Ben Bathgate as Dunbar looked to see out the game but they might well have increased their lead after Dawson just failed to get on the end of Aaron Congalton’s cross before Darren Smith went inches wide with a twenty yard effort.
Deep into injury time Calum Richards found himself one on one with the keeper after timing his run to perfection but his shot drifted wide of the post when a lob over the keeper might have been the better option.
A well deserved three points for Dunbar United which lifts them into second place in the League table and three straight League wins for the first time since the end of promotion winning season in 2016/17. Two clean sheets on the trot gives confidence to the defence and hopefully their form will continue when they travel to Tweedmouth Rangers on Saturday in a cup tie with kick off again at 2.30pm.
Dunbar United :- Sean Brennan, Ben Bathgate, Michael McFarlane, Bob Berry, Darren Handling, Jonny Edmond, Jordan Hopkinson, Fraser Neave, Aaron Congalton, Darren Smith, Dean Whitson.
Substitutes :- Shea Dowie, Jonny Grotlin, Cammy Dawson, Jake Douther, Adam Collin, Calum Richards.
Burntisland Shipyard FC :- Scott Costello, Lewis Ross, Liam Bell, Ryan O’Donnell, Jack Wilson, Craig Watt, Shaun Keatings, Daniel Thomson, Ben Anthony, Sandy Strang, Darryl Anthony.
Substitutes :- Aiden Brown, Jordan Galloway, Trialist, Ryan Connor.
Referee :- Lewis Hogarth.
Match report courtesy of Laurie Wood
Photos by Gordon Maitland.
Mon the Seasiders!
