14th August 2021 Dunbar United 2 Musselburgh Athletic 2
Another new ground for me today as I decided to visit New Countess Park in Dunbar to watch the home side, Dunbar United, take on Musselburgh Athletic in an East of Scotland League match. Dunbar is around 30 miles from Edinburgh and with kickoff at 14.30 I decided to catch the 13.11 train to Dunbar. I left home around 12.45 and walked to Waverley Station where I bought a return ticket. The train was eventually going to Bristol and consisted of nine coaches with two engines. I took seat in coach C, near the front of the train, for the journey. After a pleasant run through th East Lothian countryside I arrived in Dunbar at 13.29. I followed the instructions on Google maps and walked to the ground arriving around 13.45. I had already bought ticket on Fanbase. My details and temperature were checked on entrance. Dunbar were issuing a programme today for the first time the season. I bought three, one for myself an two for Jim who sends one to a friend in Italy. The programme seller was happy to hear that 'The Seasider' bought be read abroad.
New Countess Park is a pleasant little ground set in a sports park alongside the railway line. Trains run along the embankment in the top photo above. I had not seen the ground from my train as I had got out to get off at the station and was facing away from the ground The ground would be a paradise for a fan with an interest in trains as trains ran regularly along the line during the match. The ground is surrounded by a brick wall to prevent anyone seeing the match without payment. As you enter the ground the dressing rooms and clubhouse are on your right. Pies, coffees and other snacks can be purchased there along with halftime draw tickets. Having had lunch at home I resisted temptation at the pie stall. There is no stand although there are a number of benches alongside the perimeter fence for those who want a seat. One issue I found was there is only a small area under cover with a roof over an area which would only hold about twenty people. I don’t think I would like to go to watch a game there in the winter months. There were a number of Musselburgh fans at the game and I found out later they had come down on the 12.15 train from Musselburgh and no doubt enjoyed a good lunch with a few pints on arrival.
Both sides today are in the east of Scotland premier Division with Musselburgh being third in the table while Dunbar are sixth. Dunbar impressed me when I saw them previously against LHTV. They have signed some good players with Dean Whitson, Bob Berry, Andy Jones and Jamie Devlin coming from Trannt and Johnny Edmond from Preston Athletic. Musselburgh have several players who have been with the club for some time although they recently signed Greg Page from Penicuik. Page, a central defender, will help solidify an already strong defence. Musselburgh have recently appointed Joe Hamill as player/manager having previously held the same role at haddington. Hamill started his career with Hearts in the 2000 and is still playing although he has moved back into either central midfield or sweeper where his touch and football vision stand out. Hamill named himself among the substitutes for todays match.
The game started with a bang. In the fourth minute Jones collected a throwout from keeper Daniel Laing just inside his own half. He then set off on a run down the left touchline going like one of the express trains running outside the ground. Musselburgh players just could not keep up with his charge. Around ten yards from the byeline he sent over a perfect cross into the penalty are. Fraser McLaren did not even need to jump to head the ball into the net at the far post. The goal seemed to waken up the Musselburgh side and they equalised three minutes later. A corner from the right was not cleared properly by the Dunbar defence and fell to Lloyd Fidddler on the edge of the penalty area. His shot was straight at keeper Laing who seemed to allow the ball to bounce off him. The ball fell to Darren Downie to shoot home from just outside the six yard box. There were some half-hearted appeals from Dunbar for offside which the referee rightly ignored. Musselburgh then went ahead in fifteen minutes when full-back Jordan Orru burst into the penalty box on the left. He was taken from behind by a defender for a clear penalty. Josh Jefferies took the kick and sent Laing the wrong way with a shot into the right hand corner of the net. Musselburgh then took control of the game although Jones hit a rising shot over the bar for the home side. John McManus came close for Musselburgh with a header over the bar from a corner before Orru again burst into the penalty area but shot against the post. Then Declan O’Kane was fouled just outside the ‘D” of the penalty area and the resultant free-kick from Josh Jefferies went just past the post.
The second half started with Musselburgh looking to kill the game with third goal. They came close when a leader from a corner was cleared of the Dunbar goal-line. Jones then had another run down the left and he squared the ball to Fraser McLaren on the edge of the six yard box. His shot deflected of Page for a corner with Laing helpless. As the game moved into the last quarter Jones went through one on one with keeper Ben McGinley. His shot went inches wide of the near post. Jones then had another lung bursting run from his own half with Musselburgh defenders trailing in his wake. His shot from the edge of the penalty box flew over the bar. Dunbar finally equalised with nine minutes to go. Jones on the right squared the ball to substitute Johnny Edmond who shot home from close range. Jones had another good chance at the end of the game but shot inches wide after a move involving Edmond and fellow substitute Nick Weir. The game ended in a draw with Musselburgh having the best of the game up to the hour mark but Dunbar then fought back well and deserved their point.
After the final whistle I walked back to the station to catch the 17.11 train back to Edinburgh. After a short diversion where I learned to my cost that Google maps has a better sense of direction than me I arrived at the station around 16.40. Avoiding the charms of the micro-brewery pub outside the station I entered the station and crossed the bridge to the opposite platform to the one I had arrived at. To my surprise I saw that the departures board indicated the next train was the 17.45 to Aberdeen which stops in Edinburgh. I checked my phone and found that the 17.11 was leaving from platform 1, where I had arrived. As I crossed the bridge again a train drew into the station and passengers alighted. After the passengers dispersed the train did not move away and I found that this was the 17.11 back to Edinburgh. The train left on time and after another journey through the East Lothian countryside via Musselburgh arrived back in Edinburgh around 17.45. I came out of the station and caught a bus almost immediately and was home at 18.05.
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