PLAYER OF THE YEAR SPECIAL

BLACKBURN UNITED (1) 2:3 (2) DUNBAR UNITED
Roy (44 mins)....................................................Crawford (18 mins, 41 mins, 52 mins)
C. Spence (69 mins)
Dunbar travelled to Murrayfield Park on a chilly June evening for the last game not only of the each others season but the last game in the entire division. The visitors went into the game minus Geoff Jones and Colin McDonald, who failed a late fitness test.
Brian Droudge was first to test the home keeper after only two minutes when his driven shot in the area was well parried by Barrie hunter. Next chance also fell to the visiting side when Scott Barclay robbed Jamie Spence on the right wing and sent over a cross that Adam Cheetham headed goal wards. Once again, Barrie Hunter was on hand to make the save.
With 12 minutes on the clock, Blackburn nearly caught Dunbar on the hop. Gary Peters was caught out of position and Chris Donnelly made his way down the gap left by the absent Dunbar defender. His cross found Fraser Roy but his header was wide of the target.
With 18th minutes of the game having been played, Dunbar opened the scoring. Adam Cheetham played a through ball for JOHN CRAWFORD to chip the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net.
Blackburn weren’t for sitting back though and Patrick Donnelly caught out Ryan Grant and his effort went narrowly over the bar. At the other end, Adam Cheetham found Ryan Grant with a lay off and Barrie Hunter saved his shot.
With only 10 minutes remaining before half time, Dunbar were definitely on the ascendancy. John Crawford skinned Bryan Savage and sprinted to the bye line before shooting low to the bottom corner where Barrie Hunter managed to pop out a leg to make the block. Moments later, Adam Cheetham had a lob from 25 yards out go just over the bar. Adam Cheetham then became the evenings first booking for dissent following a soft free kick.
In the 41st minute, Dunbar went 2-0 up. A free kick in his own half was flighted forward by Gary Peters, Adam Cheetham brought the ball down and under control before setting up JOHN CRAWFORD who knocked the ball home for his second of the night, this time from 2 yards out.
Blackburn pulled a goal back with the last touch of the first half. Steven Girdwood flattened Patrick Donnelly on the edge of the box and was booked. Alan Brown floated over the free kick and FRASER ROY was unmarked and able to nod home Blackburn’s first goal of the night.

Blackburn nearly equalised within 3 minutes of the restart and it would have been in controversial circumstances. Adam Cheetham had gone down with ahead knock but Mr Hogg, the referee, ignored the shouts of protest to play on. Patrick Donnelly was allowed to run in on goal but couldn’t keep his shot down. Adam Cheetham was sufficiently injured enough to be removed from the play and he never made it back on, his replacement being Steven Rixon.
A couple of minutes later, Dunbar seemed to have the game tied up and it meant a lot to the scorer for a number of reasons. Steven Girdwood sprinted down the left wing and sent a low, driven cross towards the back post where JOHN CRAWFORD was on hand to bullet the ball home. Not only had he scored a competitive hat trick for Dunbar, but also he had just overtaken Colin McDonald to claim top scorer of the year for his club. Well-done John.
Blackburn made a double change with Andrew McQuillan and Brian Smillie replacing Andrew Heeps and Jamie Spence. Scott Barclay was the next name to be added to the crime count, this time for what appeared to be a clean tackle on Patrick Donnelly to win the ball. The referee thought otherwise.
With a little over 21 minutes remaining, Blackburn scored again. A slack clearance from the Dunbar defence dropped for CRAIG SPENCE at about 40 yards out. The big defender hit a sweet volley that found the top corner and gave the home side a little bit of hope. After Fraser Roy was booked for a foul on Dez Chisholm, the home side were handed another bigger bit of hope when Dunbar were reduced to 10 men in somewhat crazy circumstances. With the ball having left the pitch behind the goal, rather than asking for another ball to be brought on, the match official decided to book Graeme Nisbet for not collecting the ball. The defender did question if he was indeed being booked for not collecting the ball, only to be told that his continued dissent was warranting a second yellow card and he was sent from the pitch.
With around 18 minutes left, Dunbar were now holding on to their 3-2 score. Fraser Roy played Andrew McQuillan through on goal but the Blackburn couldn’t hit the target and he pulled his shot wide.
Brian Droudge was also booked in the closing minutes for a foul on Eddie Mangan. Graham Clee and Trialist #15 were both sent on in the closing stages with Dez Chisholm and Steven Girdwood coming off in an attempt to run down the clock. With 5minutes of stoppage time played, Dunbar finished the match with the scoreline intact. A 6th victory in their last 7 games of season 2006/07.

Blackburn: - Barrie Hunter, Andrew Heeps, Calum Tevendale, Craig Spence, Bryan Savage, Edward Mangan, Chris Donnelly, Alan Brown, Fraser Roy, Patrick Donnelly, Jamie Spence. Subs: - Andrew McQuillan, Mark Campbell, Brian Smillie, Douglas Polwart, Steven Barnes.
Dunbar: - Stuart Ferrier, Graeme Nisbet, Ryan Grant, Gareth Hughes, Gary Peters, Brian Droudge, Scott Barclay, Dez Chisholm, John Crawford, Adam Cheetham, Steven Girdwood. Subs: - Steven Rixon, Graham Clee, Trialist #15, Andrew Donlevy, Gavin MacLean (g/k).
Referee: - Mr Alan Hogg.