Match date: 7th February 2022 Kickoff: 7.45 pm
Dunbar United 2 Edinburgh City FC 2
A quick return to Friendly action for Dunbar United after their weekend success against Leith Athletic and this time Edinburgh City, who are currently sitting in fourth place in Scottish League Division Two were the visitors to New Countess Park.
Ironically The Citizens would have been Dunbar’s next opponents if they had progressed further in the Scottish Cup, and to add another twist to the night Darren Handling of Dunbar was playing against his brother Danny Handling for the first ever time in a competitive game. Edinburgh City named two trialists in their starting eleven both playing regularly in the East of Scotland League Premier Division.
Conditions were again horrendous for the game with the gale force wind gusting across the park, but it was the visitors who settled first and Danny Handling fired one over the bar in the second minute. Four minutes later and the same player scored direct from a free kick on the edge of the Dunbar penalty box with Daniel Laing in the Dunbar goal unsighted with players in front of him.
Dunbar tried hard to get a foothold in the game and went close when a cross from Andy Jones was spilled by the visitors keeper before being cleared to safety. Danny Handling was substituted after only 18 minutes after presumably picking up a knock, but it was the hosts who were beginning to dominate and some great link up play between Fraser Neave and Evan Fleming saw the latter’s shot strike the side netting.
Four minutes from the break Darren Handling was quick to close down the visitors keeper and from the resultant corner Jamie Devlin’s flick struck the post before being cleared. Edinburgh City counter attacked from the clearance and Daniel Laing did well to save at his near post.
Conditions appeared to deteriorate even worse after the restart with the wind causing all sorts of problems, but Dunbar again started on the front foot and Grant Thomson had a shot blocked as they tried hard for an equaliser.
Three minutes later Edinburgh City increased their lead when a cross from the left held up in the wind and fell kindly for Ryan Shanley to fire low into the bottom corner leaving Dunbar a mountain to climb.
Andy Jones went close with a shot before Dunbar pulled a goal back in the 57th minute when another wicked cross from Jones was touched home by Darren Handling whilst under pressure from two City defenders. Michael McFarlane bulleted a header wide in Dunbar’s next attack before both sides rang the changes utilising both of their squads.
Eighteen minutes from time some great play between Darren Handling and Grant Thomson ended with the latter’s goal bound shot blocked by a City defender as Dunbar threatened the visitors goal and after sustained pressure the equaliser came six minutes from time, when a Jones corner found Bob Berry on the back post and his cut back was met perfectly by Johnny Edmond to fire into the net from six yards and give the hosts a deserved equaliser.
Two minutes later and an almost identical corner saw Bob Berry’s shot shave the post after taking a deflection of a City defender before the game ended with three Dunbar corners in quick succession which somehow the visitors managed to scramble clear before the referee sounded the final whistle.
Another good work out for both teams and credit to Dunbar coming from two goals down in horrendous conditions against a Senior side especially after a short turnaround from Saturday.
Another vital home League game this weekend when Scottish Cup conqueror’s Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale return to New Countess Park with kick-off at 2.30 pm. Tickets for the game are on sale now via the club’s Fanbase app:
Dunbar United :- Daniel Laing, Michael McFarlane, Grant Thomson, Jamie Devlin, Darren Handling, Andy Jones, Fraser Neave, Nicky Weir, Evan Fleming, Darren Smith, Kieran Ingram.
Substitutes :- Bob Berry, Ben Bathgate, Ryan Mack, Johnny Edmond.
Edinburgh City :- Jack Leighfield, Ciaran Brian, Jonathan Jarron, James Farrell, Trialist, Lucas Berry, Daniel Jardine, Ryan Shanley, Danny Handling, Trialist, Quinn Mitchell.
Substitutes :- Brandyn Bain, Lee Hamilton, Alex Lamb, Emre Karadumin, Brodie McNab, Struan Mair, Logan Boyle, Cameron Fraser.
Referee :- Evan Cairns
Asst Refs :- David Dickson, Timothy Kapstick
Match report courtesy of Laurie Wood.
Mon The Seasiders!