Match date: 6th November 2021 Kickoff: 2.30 pm

Back to League business for Dunbar this weekend with a visit to Moorside Park, Cardenden in Fife and with their opponents Dundonald Bluebell on the same points total it was anticipated that both sides would be evenly matched.

Dunbar were forced to change their starting eleven due to illness, suspension and other commitments whilst the home side had to find a replacement for Murray Carstairs who was transferred to Boness United earlier in the week.

Dundonald won the toss and elected to kick down the slope with the gale force wind behind them but strangely enough it was Dunbar who settled first and they took the lead in the second minute after good work from Dan Purves on the right saw his low cross deftly flicked into the net by Andy Jones at the near post.

Johnny Edmond went close from a corner as Dunbar pushed on for a second and Andy Jones fired another inches wide before the home side equalised in the 11th minute with a bit of luck when a long ball from defence was headed away by Michael McFarlane but rebounded from another defender into the path of Barry Sibanda who was left with only the keeper to beat and the striker fired low into the corner of the net to make the score 1-1.

Play raged from end to end with a Jones corner causing havoc in the Dundonald goal area and James Mackie bringing the best out of Daniel Laing in the Dunbar goal with a 30 yard pile driver.

Dunbar were playing well against the wind and were denied a penalty after Darren Handling was fouled inside the box as he went to head another Purves cross, but the pressure paid off in the 35th minute with Dunbar regaining the lead after Darren Smith found Andy Jones on the edge of the box following a corner and the striker fired through a ruck of players low into the net for his second goal of the afternoon.

The home side piled the pressure on the Dunbar defence at the end of the first half and with three minutes left James Mackie headed home the equaliser at the back post after Dunbar failed to clear from a corner.

Dunbar pushed on after the restart with Andy Jones going close from an Edmond cross and then Darren Handling having a header agonisingly cleared off the line with the home keeper beaten.

But in the 54th minute it was Dundonald who edged in front with Elliot Ford’s left wing cross volleyed spectacularly into the net by Darren Ormiston just inside the penalty box.

Before Dunbar could regroup they fell further behind after some sloppy defending saw Daniel Laing penalised for bringing down Barry Sibanda in full flight and Lewis McKenzie made no mistake from the resultant penalty to make the score 4-2.

Dunbar tried hard to get back into the game with both Handling and Edmond having shots blocked before Andy Jones finally reduced the deficit on the hour mark when he scored directly from a corner for his fifteenth goal of the season.

The goal spree continued in the very next minute after a defence-splitting pass was neatly finished of by Elliot Ford to regain Dundonald’s two-goal cushion.

Ten minutes from time Dunbar substitute Fraser Neave was unlucky to see his shot deflected for a corner as Dunbar threw everything at the home defence but two minutes from the end the hosts clinched all three League points after Jack Smith was fouled inside the box and Stephen Husband made no mistake from Dundonald’s second penalty of the game to make the final score 6-3.

A bad day at the office for Dunbar in a game marred by the gale-force wind and the home side deservedly picked up the points after mastering the conditions better than the visitors but Dunbar have an early chance to redeem themselves on Tuesday night when they take on League leaders Penicuik Athletic away from home with kick-off at 7.30pm. Tickets for the game are on sale via Penicuik’s Fanbase app:

Dundonald Bluebell :- James Lennox, Scott Durie, Colin Wilson, James Mackie, Barry Sibanda, Lewis McKenzie, Ross Brown, Ross Drummond, Darren Ormiston, Stephen Husband, Elliot Ford.

Substitutes :- Aiden Hendry, Billy Rogerson, Jack Smith, Kieron Dall, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist.

Dunbar United :- Daniel Laing, Grant Thomson, Dean Whitson, Michael McFarlane, Bob Berry, Kieran Ingram, Darren Handling, Darren Smith, Daniel Purves, Johnny Edmond, Andy Jones.

Substitutes :- Jordan Purves, Ryan Mack, Scott Hay, Fraser Neave, Michael Fairnie.

Referee :- Lorraine Watson.

Asst Referees :- Tayler Martin, Stuart Robertson.

Match report courtesy of Laurie Wood.

Photos by David Black