28th July 2021 Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 1 Dunbar United 3

 

Another beautiful day as I headed off to Ainslie Park for the LTHV v Dunbar United match. Given that two matches in the West were abandoned yesterday due to heavy rain and the possibility of thunderstorms I decided to walk there by way of the streets rather than the railway path. In the event of a thunderstorm I would be able to catch a bus to avoid the worst of any rain. Thankfully there was no storm and I arrived at the ground around 17.20 for the 17.45 kickoff. I had bought my ticket on Fanbase and the ticket was in my phone wallet. However rather than scan my ticket on entry my name was merely ‘ticked off’ on a list the turnstile operator had on his phone. On going through the turnstile I spotted a programme, a first for LTHV, and purchased a copy for £2. Surprisingly although my ticket purchase was cashless I was able to pay for my programme with cash. I texted Jim and told him there was a programme and he arrived about ten minutes later having purchased a copy as well. We moved to the grass banking near the goal at the Pilton end of the ground. just a the team were going out I spotted Gwyn, another ex-work colleague. His son Andy Jones plays for Dunbar and he joined us for the game as we caught up on each others news. 

At kick-off LTHV stood fifteenth on the East of Scotland Premier Division with one point from their three games to date. Their side tonight was missing influential goal-scoring midfielder Darren Smith who was suspended after being sent off in the defeat by Penicuik on Saturday. There side was otherwise on familiar lines with a good strike force of the ‘two Joes”, Viola and Murray. Dunbar stand seventh in the table with six points. They have strengthened their side over the closing season by signing defender Dale Whitson and midfielder Bob Berry from Tranent along with much travelled striker Jamie Devlin. Former Hearts midfielder Ian Black who played with Dunbar last season has now retired and Gwyn told me "Blackie" is now enjoying his golf without the distraction of football. 

Dunbar were first to have the ball in the net but Devlin was clearly offside when he headed home a cross from the right. LTHV had most  of the early play and Dunbar goalkeeper Daniel Laing got down well to save at the feet of Michael Mwebe. Dunbar went ahead just after the twenty minute mark. A cross from the right should have been clear by the LHTV defence before the ball fell to Ben Bathgate who scored from close range. LTHV then made an early change with Viola having been injured and replaced by Errol Douglas, formerly of Spartans and Kelty Hearts. LTHV continued press forward and Laing did well to stop and couple of long range efforts before half-time. 

At halftime Gwyn moved to the other end of the stand to have a good view of Dunbar attacking in the second half. Andy Jones changed from his bright yellow boots at half-time and seemed to become a different player as the game progressed. However LTHV were first to score in fifty-one minutes when Sean Lally headed home a corner from the left. Dunbar went ahead again two minutes later when Jones hit a terrific shot from the edge of the box on the right which flew into the net of the underside of the bar giving keeper Jack Stewart no chance of making a save. Following the goal Jim and I moved to join Gwyn at the other end of the pitch. LHTV continued to press forward but Dunbar were dangerous on the break. Jones raced onto a pass on the left and after beating a defender chipped a shot against the bar and over from just inside the penalty box. The third and clinching goal arrived with five minutes to go when Jones cut in from the left following a through ball and shot low past Stewart at his near post. 

On the final whistle I said my goodbyes to my friends before heading up to Ferry Road. There was a twelve minute wait for a direct bus so I walked along to Crewe Toll. I managed to catch a 29 there to Princes Street then switched to a 34 getting home around 10.20. 

Teams

LTHV :- Stewart, Deland, Lally, O’Brien, Murray, Viola, Daniel, Mbewe, Penker, Dalglish, Doherty. 

Substitutes :- Douglas, Signorini, Donald.

Dunbar United :- Laing, Thomson, Whitson, McFarlane, Ingram, Neave, Bathgate, Berry, Devlin, Jones, Fleming. 

Substitutes :- McLaren, Tait, Fairnie.