Match date: 10th August 2021 Kickoff: 7.30pm
Dunbar took on unbeaten in 14 games Leith Athletic in this East of Scotland Qualifying Cup, 2nd Round tie.
The Seasiders made several changes from Saturday’s starting lineup with Dean Whitson (loan) and Michael Fairnie (injury) unavailable and Johnny Edmond and Bob Berry rotated to the bench, no doubt with a heavy fixture schedule in mind. As a result, Jo Purves made his first start since pre-season at right-back with Grant Thomson swapping to centre half.
Darren Handling replaced Bob Berry in the starting lineup with Jamie Devlin given the nod this time ahead of Johnny Edmond. Kieran Ingram started in place of the injured Michael Farnie.
The first action saw Leith win an early corner which was played to the near post, only for Brodie McKenzie to blast high and wide. Jamie Devlin then tried his luck from 25 yards out for Dunbar but his effort deflected wide for a corner which was taken by Fraser Neave and headed wide by Grant Thomson.
With just over a quarter of an hour in the clock, Devlin and Jo Purves combined to work an opening for Andy Jones but he curled his shot over from the edge of the box. Darren Handling was shown an early yellow card for a foul on Kerr Allan in midfield when one could have conceivably conceded that the Dunbar player won the ball fair and square. In the 25th minute, Jones played in Jamie Devlin down the left channel but Devlin’s shot was over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.
At the other end, Martin Maughan tried and failed, to beat Evan Fleming in a footrace to the ball on the bye line. When he didn’t win the race, he fell over in the box but the referee was unconvinced. Just after the half-hour mark, Jo Purves played in Fraser McLaren on the right. His cross found Jamie Devlin who fired low and wide of the target.
At this stage, it was nip and tuck between the two sides, but in the 33rd minute, Leith took a lead they didn’t look likely to relinquish. Martin Maughan sprinted clear of the Dunbar defence after beating the offside trap down the left-wing. He drew Daniel Laing and hared off towards the bye line from where his cut-back was inch-perfect for CALLUM MEIN in the centre to slam the ball home.
Leith had their tails up and they were beginning to look good for their lead. Brodie McKenzie and Kayne Paterson both went close in the next attack with the former pulling out a save from Laing and the latter shooting across the face of the goal.
Approaching halftime, Callum Mein went down injured on the far touchline and was replaced with Robbie Walker. The final action of the first half saw Darren Handling find Andy Jones, who dragged his shot wide of the target.
Half time: Dunbar United 0, Leith Athletic 1
Bob Berry replaced the booked Darren Handling for the resumption of the second half. With 53 minutes of the clock, another attempt by the Dunbar forward line went begging as Dunbar appeared to have trouble in breaking down the Leith defence and resorted to long-range shots, with the visitors were more than happy with. In the 56th minute, Grant Thomson was next to try his luck but once again the shot from distance went flying low and wide.
The Dunbar defence then appeared to switch off and from a Leith throw-in, Brodie McKenzie tried his luck but he was just off target. Then Robbie Walker played in Martin Maughan but the Leith forward fired over the top. Leith had woken up again. Johnny Edmond was sent into the action with Fraser McLaren making way in the Dunbar front line.
John Robertson and James Henderson replaced Michael Barfoot and James Redpath for Leith. Within minutes, Leith had doubled their lead. A slip up at the back from Dunbar allowed BRODIE McKENZIE to waltz through on goal, unchallenged and slotted home under the despairing Daniel Laing in the Dunbar goal. McKenzie nearly had another, just minutes later, when he broke through the Dunbar defence again but Laing was able to make the diving save.
With just 8 minutes of the match remaining, Leith did score their third goal. Robbie Walker burst up the right touchline and sent in a low cross to the back post where KAYNE PATERSON was on hand to sweep the ball home.
Dunbar managed a consolation goal in the 84th minute when ANDY JONES fired home a screamer of a long-range shot from around 25 yards but Leith were to have the last say with a fourth and final goal right on the full-time whistle. Kieran Ingram slipped and Grant Thomson overstretched, allowing BRODIE McKENZIE to pounce and stroke home his second and Leith’s fourth of the evening.
A poor second-half showing from The Seasiders who now return to league duty with three league matches, in the next 10 days, with a visit from Musselburgh on Saturday and trips to West Lothian next Wednesday to take on Blackburn United and next Saturday to face Linlithgow Rose. Tickets for the first East Lothian derby of the season are now on sale via the club’s Fanbase app:
Dunbar United :- Daniel Laing, Jo Purves, Michael McFarlane, Kieran Ingram, Grant Thomson, Jamie Devlin, Fraser McLaren, Darren Handling, Andy Jones, Fraser Neave, Evan Fleming.
Substitutes :- Keith Tait, Bob Berry, John Johnstone, Johnny Edmond, Nicky Weir.
Leith Athletic :- Kyle Rankin, James Redpath, Craig Hume, Kerr Allan, Callum Mein, Murray Hand, Martin Maughan, Brodie McKenzie, Jay Watson, Kayne Paterson, Michael Barfoot.
Substitutes :- James Henderson, Wayne Sproule, Campbell McLellan, Gregg Veitch, John Robertson, Robbie Walker.
Referee :- George Calder
Asst Referees :- Andrew Brown & Robert White
