Match date: 23rd June 2021 Kickoff: 19:30

Dunbar United continued their Pre-season friendlies with a visit to Recreation Park, Ormiston, where ex Dunbar stalwart Richie Weir is in charge of the Conference League side.

Dunbar went close in the 10th minute when Bob Berry just failed to connect from a Purves free-kick before the home side replied with a shot which went inches wide.

Dunbar soon began to create openings and Darren Handling was played in by the impressive Ben Bathgate but his shot was parried away by the Ormiston keeper.

Bathgate again found Keith Tait with a diagonal pass but his chip over the keeper was inches too high. The Dunbar pressure paid of in the 19th minute when Fraser McLaren created space 25 yards from goal and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net to open the scoring for Dunbar.

Dunbar increased their lead in the 32nd minute after Bathgate was fouled about 30 yards from goal and Grant Thomson’s free kick somehow evaded the home keeper and nestled into the net. The keeper redeemed himself in the next attack when he cleared from the head of Purves and the resultant corner saw McLaren’s flick cleared off the line.

Five changes after the restart for the visitors using all their substitutes and both sides took time to settle on a really hard and fiery surface.

Dunbar continued to dictate and their Trialist went close on two occasions before they added a third goal in the 69th minute after good work from Bathgate finding Grant Thomson on the edge of the box and his shot was deflected into the net of an Ormiston defender for an own goal.

Scott Hay had a header cleared of the line before Handling and Purves went close forcing Kieran Beveridge in the home goal into action to keep the score intact.

The game ended on a sour note with Dunbar ‘s Manager falling foul of the referee after appealing against an offside decision but a good run out for all sixteen players gaining some valuable game time and a win and clean sheet as well.

Dalkeith Thistle are next up for Dunbar this Saturday with kick off at 2.30 pm at New Countess Park with spectators allowed once again.

Dunbar United :- Daniel Laing, Keith Tait, Jo Purves, Kieran Ingram, Grant Thomson, Bob Berry, Fraser McLaren, Darren Handling, Ben Bathgate, Michael Fairnie, Trialist.

Substitutes :- John Johnstone, Michael McFarlane, Jamie Devlin, Scott Hay and Nicky Weir

Referee :- Boise Allan

Match report courtesy of Laurie Wood