Match date: 12th March 2022 Kickoff: 2.30 pm
Dunbar United 0 Kennoway Star Hearts 1
Both sides finally kicked off their League Cup campaign after a free weekend and Dunbar United were looking to get back to winning ways against their Fife opponents. Dean Whitson made a welcome return to the Dunbar defence after an injury picked up in mid January, and once again the Dunbar management reshuffled their side to try and find a winning formation.
A cagey start for both sides with Jason Watson firing wide for the visitors and Steven Thomson going close for Dunbar before only some brilliant goalkeeping from Calum Brodie in the Kennoway goal denied Dunbar from taking the lead after he parried out a Darren Handling shot, then saved with his feet from Steven Thomson’s rebound.
Thomson created another chance for the hosts, but Jamie Devlin just failed to connect with the goal at his mercy before Liam Craig had two shots saved by the Dunbar keeper. A lovely flowing move from Dunbar ended with Steven Thomson shooting narrowly over, before Darren Handling had a shot deflected into the visitors keeper’s arms.
Kennoway grew more into the game and Lee Bryce headed a great chance wide before the same player might have done better from a defensive mix up and just on the interval they fired wide from a free kick on the edge of the Dunbar box.
Six minutes after the restart, Liam Craig went close with a fierce 30 yard shot which Daniel Laing in the Dunbar goal tipped over the bar, and just as it looked as if the game was going to end goalless, the deadlock was broken in the 71st minute after some sloppy Dunbar defending left Ross Balmer in space at the edge of the box and his low shot was deflected past Laing in the Dunbar goal to give the visitors the lead.
Two minutes later and a great weaving run by Dunbar substitute Andy Jones ended with Darren Handling’s shot rebounding from the post with the Kennoway keeper beaten, but Jones fired the rebound over the bar.
Dunbar pushed forward looking for an equaliser but the visitors were well marshalled at the back by Ally Griffin and six minutes from time Darren Handling had a great run on the left before firing low across the face of the crowded goalmouth and somehow the ball evaded everyone when only the slightest of touches would have been seen the ball in the net.
The visitors saw the game out and returned home with a welcome three League Cup points. Dunbar are clearly going through a really tough spell at the moment and have failed to find the net in their last three games, but hopefully things will improve soon and all their created chances will be turned into goals. Dunbar travel to Stoneyburn on Saturday with yet another League Cup game kicking off at 2.30 pm.
Dunbar United :- Daniel Laing, Jamie Devlin, Bob Berry, Steven Thomson, Darren Handling,Ben Bathgate, Fraser Neave, Nicky Weir, Evan Fleming, Darren Smith, Dean Whitson.
Substitutes :- Declan Hannan, Michael McFarlane, Grant Thomson, Andy Jones, Scott Hay.
Kennoway Star Hearts :- Calum Brodie, Craig Wallace, Jay Watson, Keir Young, Ally Griffin, Jason Watson, Ross Balmer, Liam Craig, Lee Bryce, Harris Kay, Craig Brand.
Substitutes :- Craig Doctor, Jacob McAlonie, Brooklyn Mair.
Referee :- Mark Harris
Match report courtesy of Laurie Wood.
Photos by Gordon Maitland.