Dunbar run riot in the final

Dunbar UNITED COLTS turned on the style to win the George Salmon under-13 Cup final by beating East Lothian rivals Tranent Colts 5-2.

Goals game quickly in this one-sided affair as the hometown side won the trophy at New Countess Park thanks to goals from Jamie Chapman, David Darling, Liam Browne and a brace from striker Ryan Young.

The game started at a fast and furious pace with Dunbar going a goal up inside five minutes thanks to the delicate precision of Chapman. Darling slottted a diagonal pass through to pacey winger Chapman, whose quick thinking and awareness led to him sliding the ball into the bottom left hand corner.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Dunbar continued this early pressure with Tranent struggling to contain the quick and accurate passing of Darling and Andrew Taylor. Straight after scoring the opening goal Dunbar went close with a shot by Young stinging the hands of Tranent goalkeeper Mike Taylor.

It was Taylor again who came to the rescue of his team mates with ten minutes gone. Chapman played a delightful pass through to Darling to go one-on-one with Taylor but it was the goalkeeper who came out on top at the edge of the area.

However, two minutes later, Dunbar did double their lead thanks to a quick turn and shot by Young. Darling started the move down the right wing and as he cut along the by-line he played in Chapman whose first-time shot rebounded off of a defender straight to Young who turned and drilled home from four yards out.

Within seconds of the restart, Dunbar hit the back of the net again with the plaudits going to midfield maestro Darling. His mazy run after he picked the ball up on the half way line took him past two defenders and he hit a curving right foot shot from the edge of the area which left the keeper rooted to the spot.

Dunbar maintained their dominance, with the next opportunity falling to Taylor who was playing just behind the front two in Dunbar's diamond-shaped midfield. He cut in from the right hand side and his curling right foot shot went inches wide of the right hand post. But within minutes of that chance the game was all over with Dunbar taking a four goal lead. Chapman, who was giving the Tranent defence a torrid time, played the ball over to Young who twisted and turned from left to right before smashing the ball home.

Young created the last chance of the first half with a half volley from the corner of the box but Taylor was equal to it and tipped it round the post for a Dunbar corner.

The second half was a mirror image to the first as Dunbar controlled the midfield with some stylish passing, creating numerous clear cut chances. But it was Tranent, against the run of play, who got a goal back as Dunbar were on another one of their attacks. Connor Lee intercepted an Andrew Taylor pass and quickly played it downfield to Jamie Veitch who took on the defender and crossed straight to Cameron Dawson. Dawson's first time pass found Jack Gilchrist lurking just inside the box and his first-time control took him past David Imrie to slot home and give his side a fighting chance.

However Dunbar restored their four goal lead within a minute of the restart as substitute Liam Browne finished off a fine passing move. Darling played in Young who unselfishly played in the unmarked Browne to place the ball in the far bottom corner.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The last goal of the game came ten minutes from the end with a delightful free kick from Tranent's Chris Russell. Veitch was fouled just inside the Dunbar half and Russell stepped up to float the ball over the heads of everyone and into the net.

It was all too little too late for Tranent as Dunbar ran out comfortable winners. United's young captain Harry Bowles felt his team were fantastic all through the game and deserved the victory.

He said, "We fought hard for every ball throughout the game and everyone in the team deserved to get a winners medal."

His sentiments were echoed by coach Keith Binning, who couldn't have been happier with the team performance. "To score five goals in any game is great but in a final is amazing. We were so strong throughout putting pressure on Tranent even though we had the goals already in the bag."

Dunbar Colts: David Imrie, Harry Bowles, James Forrest, Ewan Stark, Rory Pilbeam, Conal Prior, Jamie Chapman, David Darling, Ryan Young, Andrew Taylor, Kyle Binning, Jack Armstrong, Liam Browne, Dylan Gilles, Tyler Robinson, Stuart Allan.

Tranent Colts: Michael Taylor, Joshua Brodie, Connor Lee, Connor Blair, Stewart Johnston, Macauley Woodcock, Connor Martin, Jack Gilchrist, Christopher Russell, Cameron Dawson, Jamie Veitch, Ewan Porteous, Mark Flynn.