Match date: 22nd of August 2023 Kickoff: 19.30 pm
Dunbar United 1 Hutchison Vale 0
After a convincing cup win at Oakley on Saturday it was back to League business on Tuesday night when Hutchison Vale were the visitors to New Countess Park in a rearranged game originally scheduled to have been played at Ainslie Park. The Hearts B team needed the pitch for a Lowland League game so the match was switched to Dunbar.
The visitors were still in buoyant mood after a 6-0 win at Kinnoull on Saturday and they were looking to continue their good form after winning at Dunbar 4-1 in the League two seasons ago.
Michael Barfoot was the only change from Saturday replacing Aaron Congalton in Dunbar’s starting eleven and with Grant Thomson and Brandon Archibald serving suspensions, Finlay Goldie and Daniel Hall from the Under 20s side were named as substitutes.
The visitors forced the pace right from the start and Ricky Miller missed a great chance to open the scoring in the second minute when he side footed over the bar from Scott Maxwell’s free kick.
Two minutes later, Ben Bathgate then ran onto Johnny Edmond’s through ball but Miller saved the day for Hutchison Vale with a last man tackle. Another two Hutchison Vale free kicks caused problems for the home side when one was fired across the face of the goal with no end product and Calum Donaldson shooting wide of the goal from the second one.
Ironically the visitors were made to pay for their missed chances when Dunbar opened the scoring in the twentieth minute after a great run and cross from Ben Bathgate on the left was headed low into the net by Johnny Edmond at the back post for his fifth goal of the season.
The hard working Bathgate went close again six minutes later when his shot was turned round for a corner and Taylor Hendry then had a shot blocked before Liam Gregory had a shot saved from the rebound.
Four minutes before the break Mason Renton fired over the Dunbar bar after a goalmouth scramble and despite a lot of possession from the visitors it was Dunbar who went in at the break with a slender one goal lead.
Aaron Congalton replaced Ben Bathgate in midfield for Dunbar after the restart and the visitors began to force the pace. Ricky Miller wasted a good chance from a free kick on the edge of the box before he headed a corner wide minutes later.
With some feisty tackles creeping into the game the referee booked a few of the players and in a rare Dunbar attack James Redpath hit the side netting from Michael Barfoot’s free kick. Danny Chisholm went close with a dipping shot from twenty yards for Hutchison Vale as they threw everything at the hosts but the Dunbar defence was well organised and giving little away.
Sean Stewart and Gregor Goldie replaced Taylor Hendry and Liam Gregory as Dunbar looked to see out the game and eleven minutes before the end Stewart headed a Dunbar corner back across goal for Bob Berry to head inches wide whilst under pressure.
Deep into injury time Shea Dowie, under pressure,dropped a high ball at the feet of a Hutchison Vale forward but his shot was blasted high over the bar before the referee sounded the final whistle.
A hard earned three points for Dunbar who played some nice football and took their chance whilst the visitors had the bulk of possession but were restricted to half chances by a resolute Dunbar defence with Gordon Harris and Willis Hare again impressing at the back and every Dunbar player giving their all for the jersey.
Twelve League points gained from a possible fifteen and sitting in third place in the table is a dream start for Dunbar who travel to Dalgety Bay in Fife on Saturday to play Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts with kick-off at the earlier time of 2 pm. It is hoped a large travelling support will travel across to Fife to cheer on the lads.
Dunbar United :- Shea Dowie, Willis Hare, James Redpath, Michael Barfoot, Bob Berry, Johnny Edmond, Darren Handling, Liam Gregory, Ben Bathgate, Taylor Hendry, Gordon Harris.
Substitutes :- Sean Brennan, Gregor Goldie, Daniel Hall, Finlay Goldie, Aaron Congalton, Darren Smith, Sean Stewart.
Hutchison Vale :- Adam Meek, Danny Chisholm, Shaun Harrison, Mason Renton, Ricky Miller, Sean Wringe, Scott Maxwell, Joe Viola, Calum Donaldson, Ben Viola, Anthony Muir.
Substitutes :- Thomas Penker, Fletcher Patterson, Patryk Jelen,Kyle Scott, Mathew Dalgleish, Owen Walton, Jake Morrison.
Referee :- Mark Harris.
Asst Referees :- Stephen Mainds, Stuart Robertson.
Crowd 217
Match report courtesy of Laurie Wood.
Photos by Gordon Maitland.
“Mon the Seasiders, well played lads