Match date: 1st of August 2023 Kickoff: 19.30 pm
Sauchie Juniors 2 Dunbar United 7
After an impressive home win against Dundonald Bluebell on Saturday Dunbar United travelled to Beechwood Park, Sauchie for their first away League match of the season against title favourites Sauchie. The home side finished last season as runners up in the Premier Division and after a surprise defeat at the weekend they would have hoped to kick start their season with a home win against the League newcomers.
Both sides had early chances with Ben Bathgate having a shot saved before an inviting low cross by Sauchie needed only a touch but was missed by everyone.
Dunbar continued their free flowing football from Saturday and took the lead in the 8th minute when Liam Gregory skipped past his marker on the left and fired low across goal which Taylor Hendry dummied leaving Kyle Somers the simplest of tasks to side foot the ball into the net.
Two minutes later and Dunbar scored again after a ball over the top of the high pressing Sauchie defence was controlled by Taylor Hendry who calmly rounded the keeper and stroked home from an acute angle for his sixth goal of the season. Sauchie looked stunned by the Dunbar start and began to get a foothold in the game with Kieran Anderson and Ross Hutchison both testing Sean Brennan in the Dunbar goal with shots from distance.
The home side pulled a goal back in the 27th minute after Kieran Anderson’s header from a free kick was punched into the air by Sean Brennan but Sam Davidson was first to react to the rebound and prodded home from close range.
One minute later and the score was level at 2-2 when the Dunbar defence was left flat footed from a quickly taken Sauchie free kick leaving Ross Kavanagh free to fire home from the edge of the box.
Sauchie’s tails were up after pegging back Dunbar’s two goal lead but credit to Dunbar who picked themselves up and retook the lead in the 34th minute when a James Redpath free kick on the right was headed powerfully into the net by Taylor Hendry.
Kieran Anderson headed over for Sauchie before Dunbar scored their fourth goal in the 38th minute when a long ball over the top was controlled by Gregor Goldie who outpaced the home defence before setting up Taylor Hendry to curl a beauty into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Sean Brennan did well to save a low shot from Kieran Anderson at full stretch as Sauchie tried hard to stem the Dunbar flow but the visitors scored again just before the break in almost a carbon copy from Saturday’s diving header by Taylor Hendry. This time Kyle Somers corner kick was side footed into the net by Taylor Hendry for his fourth goal of the game to send Dunbar in at the interval with a 5-2 lead
As expected Sauchie upped the pace after the restart throwing everything at the Dunbar side and were quick to make substitutions after the Dunbar defence gave little away with Dean Whitson and Grant Thomson solid at the back.
Scott Davidson headed wide from a Sauchie corner but the visitors were restricting the home side to long range shots which never really troubled Sean Brennan in the Dunbar goal.
Numerous substitutions were made by both sides as time was running out for the home side before ex Linlithgow Rose striker, Lewis Payne, went close in the 75th minute when his volley from the edge of the box struck the top of the crossbar before going out of play.
Dunbar still pushed forward at every opportunity and they increased their lead in the 77th minute when Gregor Goldie again ran onto a long ball and held the ball up long enough for support before firing a low shot across the face of the goal which Johnny Edmond stabbed home at the second attempt to make the score 6-2 to Dunbar.
A lot of the home support began drifting away at this point before Lewis Payne headed wide for Sauchie but it was Dunbar who had the final say in the 88th minute after a lovely free flowing move on the right between Bob Berry and Aaron Congalton saw the latter’s cross fired low into the net by Fraser Neave who scored with a fantastic finish to make the final score 7-2 to the visitors.
An outstanding display by Dunbar United who were playing some lovely confident one touch football and never looked overawed by the reputation of the home side. Their work rate and attitude was spot on with every player complimenting each other and the visiting support was treated to one of the best displays by Dunbar United for a long time.
Taylor Hendry’s four well taken goals meant he was the first Dunbar player to score four in a competitive match since Chris King scored four against Hawick Royal Albert at home on 1st September 2018 in a 6-0 League win and the last time Dunbar United scored seven goals away from home was against Tweedmouth Rangers in a League game at Old Shielfield Park, Berwick on 15th August 2018 when Dunbar won 8-0.
Another away game on Saturday when Dunbar United travel to Kiers Park to play Hill of Beath Hawthorn in another League fixture with kick off again at 2.30pm.
Sauchie Juniors :- Charles Clark, Connor Willaghan, Ross Hutchison, Scott Davidson, Darren Carroll, Danny Smith, Sam Davidson, Brian Morgan, Jack Docherty, Kieran Anderson, Ross Kavanagh.
Substitutes :- Thomas Elvin, Ross Balmer, Alistair Peacock, Adam Mansouri, Lucas Williamson, Lewis Payne.
Dunbar United :- Sean Brennan, James Redpath, Dean Whitson, Grant Thomson, Michael Barfoot, Bob Berry, Liam Gregory, Ben Bathgate, Taylor Hendry, Kyle Somers, Gregor Goldie.
Substitutes :- Trialist, Michael McFarlane, Fraser Neave, Johnny Edmond, Darren Handling, Gordon Harris, Aaron Congalton.
Referee :- Chris Hobbs
Match report courtesy of Laurie Wood.
Photos by Gordon Maitland. Please click on the Facebook link for the photos.https://www.facebook.com/profile/100063914791733/search/?q=sauchie%20juniors%20match%20report
“Mon the Seasiders”