Strollers came into the game against bottom of the league Dunbar Utd looking for a win to build on last weeks encouraging effort against Cramond. Strollers lined up in a 4-5-1 formation making 2 changes from last week's side. Searl and Gage were missing and were replaced by Wallace and Annand. Strollers went with McCall in goal, a back four of Carson on the right, Reid on the left and Jamieson and Annand in the centre. Wallace came into play in an unfamiliar holding midfield role alongside Thomson and Allan with Clement on the right and Langstaff on the left leaving Burden upfront on his own.
Strollers started the game very brightly with Clement and Langstaff causing problems down the flanks. Clement was always available for the ball and was getting into some terrific positions, his final ball let him down on occasion but credit to Clement that he continued to want the ball and create numerous chances.
The first real chance of the game came when Langstaff and Burden linked up well, Burden's through ball was taken well by Langstaff but unfortunately he drove straight at the keeper.
Allen then had a chance when Burden's quick free kick found him clear in the box, he swivelled and shot but was unfortunate to see the ball come back off the keepers feet to safety.
Clement then came close with an unbelievable effort, he spotted the keeper off his line and looked to chip him from out wide 30 yards out but was desperately unlucky to see his effort crash back off the bar.
Dunbar were causing very few problems for the Strollers defence and Annand and Jamieson were commanding whenever there was a Dunbar attack.
Strollers came close to taking the lead again when Burden's free-kick to the back post was almost touched in by Thomson at the back post.
Half Time
LBG Strollers 0 - 0 Dunbar Utd
Strollers half-time talk given by Dillon was pretty much just to produce more of the same and surely the goal would come.
The Strollers came out sharply in the 2nd half and Langstaff had another chance to put the home side infront when Allen played him through, again though the keeper denied the winger from opening the scoring.
The deadlock was finally broken when Langstaff was again thwarted by the keeper, Allen beautifully chipped the ball back over the keeper however the Dunbar Utd left back punched the goalbound effort clear and the Strollers were awarded a penalty with the Dunbar man sent off. Burden's penalty was very, very poor, however a fortunate bobble seen the ball go past the keeper to give the side the lead.
Burden then was unlucky to see his 30 yard free kick come crashing off the bar with the keeper beaten.
Carson then came close when Thomson's header at the back post went right across goal and Carson arrived but his shot hit the side netting to prevent him scoring his first Strollers goal.
Strollers were however performing poorly with the man advantage and Dunbar were coming back into the game, they created one chance but McCall saved well down low to his left. Strollers needed a 2nd goal to make the game safe. The goal duly came shortly after and it was a nice move. Annand played a lovely ball to Tomarelli who was making his comeback from an injury layoff. Tomarelli sprinted down the line and played a nice cut back and Clement fired into the net from close range at the 2nd attempt.
Thomson then almost scored another tremendous volley to add to last week's effort, his shot hitting the underside of the bar. Wallace followed up and looked to have a simple task to head home, somehow Wallace managed not to get enough power on his header from 1 yard and the keeper clawed it clear. It is a guarantee to be the miss of the season and one Wallace took a fair bit of stick about after the game.
Strollers then made a raft of substitutes to give everyone a runout and close the game out.
Full Time
LBG Strollers 2 - 0 Dunbar Utd
It was a decent performance by the Strollers and good to get a clean sheet, however the spell after the Dunbar man was sent off was disappointing. All in all though it was a good days work, apart from a nasty facial injury to Carson and a shoulder injury to Langstaff. Man of the match was close between Dave Allen and Graeme Clement, Clement coming out top on the players vote.
Strollers will be looking to build on this win when they play Salters this weekend, however it will be a tough game against a Salters side who have been flying lately.
