Match date: 12th of November Kickoff: 14.30 pm
Dunbar United 5 Kinnoull FC 0
Perth based Kinnoull FC made their first ever journey to Dunbar for yet another tabletop League clash with only three points separating the sides in a very competitive League.
Dunbar United made one change for the game after last weekend’s narrow defeat at Glenrothes with 17 year old Gregor Goldie replacing Jonny Grotlin in the starting eleven for his first full game for the senior side after stepping up from the under 20 side.
A perfect day for football with the sun shining, very little wind and another healthy crowd inside the ground welcomed both sides who were piped onto the park by Donna Collins, and after a minutes silence a wreath was laid on the half way line by Dean Whitson who was captain of today’s home side.
Dunbar got off to the perfect start after three minutes when Darren Handling timed his run to perfection and headed home at the near post from a corner to settle any nerves.
Eight minutes later and the visitors were denied an equaliser after Sean Brennan brought off a brilliant save from Tai McCluskey after the Kinnoull forward was fortunate not to have been adjudged to have fouled Dunbar’s Willis Hare in the lead up to his shot.
Dunbar totally dominated the game after this and Darren Handling went close with a shot which hit the side netting before the same player found Bob Berry with a low cross and Ben Bathgate read his back heeler perfectly only to see his shot strike the outside of the post. Cammy Dawson had a header cleared off the line before Gregor Goldie went close after flicking on Willis Hare’s shot in a crowded goalmouth.
Five minutes before the break the Dunbar pressure finally paid off after Goldie and Bathgate combined well on the left and Ben Bathgate’s shot was deflected into the net by Kinnoull’s Anthony Holt whilst under pressure from Cammy Dawson and the home side went into the half time interval with a comfortable two goal lead.
Dunbar continued to dominate after the restart and they increased their lead in the 53rd minute when James Redpath played in Gregor Goldie and the youngster held his composure, rounded the Kinnoull keeper and stroked the ball into the net for a well deserved goal on his first full outing in the team.
The visitors rang the changes in an effort to try and regain a foothold in the game but Dunbar continued to dominate and they increased their lead to four in the 62nd minute when Cammy Dawson fired low into the net after reacting well to Bob Berry’s back post header, Gregor Goldie again went close with a shot which the Kinnoull keeper saved well before Dunbar made five changes giving all their players some valuable game time.
Kinnoull’s Liam Woolley had a header from a free kick saved well by Sean Brennan before Michael McFarlane sent the home support home happy in the 87th minute when he was on hand to turn a Liam Gregory shot into the net and make the final score 5-0 to Dunbar.
Another three points gained after a well deserved victory for the home side and Dunbar United are once again sitting top of the League table on goal difference with eighteen games left to play but still only seven points separating the top eight teams.
A welcome break from League duty for the next two weeks with cup ties taking priority and on Saturday Dunbar United make their first ever visit to Airdrie to play West of Scotland League First Division side Gartcairn in a South Challenge Cup Third Round match with kick off at the earlier time of 1.30pm. The club are running a supporters bus to the game and still have a number of tickets on sale via their Fanbase app:
Dunbar United :- Sean Brennan, James Redpath, Michael McFarlane, Bob Berry, Cammy Dawson, Darren Handling, Ben Bathgate, Fraser Neave, Willis Hare, Gregor Goldie, Dean Whitson.
Substitutes :- Shea Dowie, Adam Collin, Jonny Grotlin, Liam Gregory, Daniel Hall, Aaron Congalton.
Kinnoull FC :- Lukeasz Osinski, Kyle Wooley, Liam Woolley, Gregor Donald, Adam Frydrychouz, Sean Burton, Sean Fergus, Anthony Holt, Cameron Robertson, Patrick Brown, Tai McCluskey.
Substitutes :- Jordi Duncan, Paul Anderson, Jamie McKenzie, Aidin Phillips, Ben Rogan, Kieran Donald.
Referee :- Danny MacKinnon
Photos by Dave Black , Gordon Maitland & Brian Thomson
Mon the Seasiders, well done lads, outstanding performance!