Match date: 11th December 2021 Kickoff: 2.30 pm
After last weekend’s abandoned match against Linlithgow Rose, Dunbar travelled to Carmuirs Park in Falkirk to face a Camelon side who are fighting hard to avoid relegation, and with ex Berwick Rangers manager Johnny Harvey in charge, this was always going to be a difficult game.
Dunbar were dealt a blow before kick off when Jamie Devlin had to withdraw due to work commitments and Manager Kevin Haynes was isolated from Covid leaving Andy Donlevy at the helm.
A dreich, wet afternoon greeted both sides at kick off with the park looking in good condition despite the recent bad weather. The hosts went close in the opening minute when a free kick took a big deflection before Daniel Laing in the Dunbar goal saved well.
Johnny Edmond almost capitalised from a bad pass back by Camelon after the ball bounced off their keepers legs but the keeper redeemed himself before Edmond could bring the ball under control.
With both teams probing for an opening, Darren Gribben had two shots saved by Daniel Laing before Andy Jones went close for Dunbar with a shot which Welner in the Camelon saved at his near post.
Camelon took the lead in the 16th minute when MacDonald fired in a wicked cross from the right which was headed downwards and into the net by the experienced Darren Gribben at the back post.
Dean Whitson had a shot blocked from a Dunbar corner as the visitors pushed on looking for an equaliser and the pressure paid off in the 34th minute when Dean Whitson bulleted home a header from Fraser Neave’s corner for his first competitive goal in Dunbar colours after Darren Smith’s free kick had been parried away by the Camelon keeper.
One minute before the break Camelon restored their lead when another cross from the right was cleared away only as far as the edge of the box where a Camelon player fired goalwards and the ball fortuitously deflected off McTaggart and into the net with the Dunbar defence wrong footed.
Dunbar almost equalised in their next attack when a brilliant run and cross from Darren Handling on the right was headed wide by Fraser Neave with the goal at his mercy.
Camelon began the second half on the front foot with Kasa testing Daniel Laing with three shots from distance before Dunbar equalised for a second time in the 54th minute after a great run by Michael McFarlane found Darren Handling on the right, and his left foot shot was parried onto the post by the Camelon keeper with the rebound falling nicely for Johnny Edmond to control the ball and fire home from inside the box.
Play raged from end to end with both sides looking for a winner and Mitchell Taylor fired inches wide for Camelon before Darren Handling’s header for Dunbar was saved well by Welner in the Camelon goal.
With five minutes left Dunbar almost snatched victory when Darren Smith’s free kick was headed inches wide by Michael McFarlane with the home defence beaten, but a draw was probably a fair result after Dunbar put in a hard workmanlike performance and another valuable point gained in an interesting League table.
Another crucial League game at New Countess Park, Dunbar next weekend when Sauchie Juniors are the visitors with kick-off again at 2.30 pm. Tickets for the game are on sale via the club’s Fanbase app:
Camelon Juniors :- Welner, Munro, Sandison, McArthur,Sharp, McTaggart, MacDonald, Kasa, Gribben, Stevenson, Taylor.
Substitutes :- Wallace, Mochrie, Osborne, Boyle, Otonti, Sampson, McGinnis.
Dunbar United :- Laing, Thomson, McFarlane, Whitson, Fleming, Smith, Berry, Neave, Edmond, Jones, Handling.
Substitutes :- Mack, Ingram, McLaren, Weir, D. Purves, Hay, Bathgate.
Referee :- Ryan Kennedy.
Match report courtesy of Laurie Wood.
Photos by Gordon Maitland.
