KEVIN Haynes has called on his Dunbar United team to make “life uncomfortable” for the teams at the top of the East of Scotland Football League (EoSFL) Premier Division table.
The Seasiders finished the first half of the league campaign in third spot with 30 points from a possible 45.
Despite the impressive points tally, that still left them seven points adrift of leaders Broxburn Athletic.
Haynes’ side were promoted to the top tier of the EoSFL at the end of last season as First Division champions and he was “delighted” with how they had adapted to life back in the Premier Division.
Now, he has challenged his team to go out and better their haul of points from the first half of the season.
He said: “If we can better or equal our first round of games then we are going to have a right good finish.
“We just want to put pressure on teams above us and if we continue to do that then it is going to be a great season.
“We want to progress – can we make a small progression on the first half of the season? If we get 31 points then it is a progression.
“These are targets we set them and in terms of progression in the cup.
“We want to beat last year’s round that we got to in each tournament and we did that in the Scottish Cup. It is small progressions.
“We are not going to come out and say we want to win X amount of games that would put us first in the league. “Whatever we accumulate – it will be what it will be.
“If that is putting pressure on Broxburn or Musselburgh or Jeanfield Swifts then so be it.
“We just want to make their lives as uncomfortable as possible.”
🥅 | GOAL & MATCH HIGHLIGHTS VS TYNECASTLE FC
— Dunbar United FC (@DunbarUtd) December 10, 2023
Here are the videos for the goals & the match highlights from yesterday’s 3-2 win at Meggetland.
⬇️ GOAL HIGHLIGHTS ⬇️https://t.co/6usSuXfYI7
⬇️ MATCH HIGHLIGHTS ⬇️https://t.co/Wx8jPsERu9
“Well done Seasiders” 🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/AGzgd12BQ2
Dunbar won the First Division last year by just a point from Kinnoull, with Luncarty and Glenrothes joining them in securing promotion.
However, while the East Lothian side have thrived, the other promoted clubs currently make up the three relegation spots.
Haynes said: “If you combine their three points totals altogether, we have won more points than them put together.
“It is very pleasing and using that as a comparable data is good but I think we could have had six more points – it is probably sounding greedy!”
The latest three points came on Saturday as they defeated Tynecastle in memorable circumstances.
The Capital club were 2-0 up at the break before Taylor Hendry pulled one back.
The goalscorer was then sent off as Dunbar looked to overturn their deficit with 35 minutes left to play.
Sean Stewart levelled the score with 15 minutes to go and Dylan Tait then completed the remarkable turnaround just five minutes before the full-time whistle.
We are all looking forward to Saturday’s match against @hawshob
— Dunbar United FC (@DunbarUtd) December 11, 2023
🗓️ Saturday 16/12/23
📍 New Countess Park
🏆 EOS Premier Division
🕞 14.30 pm KO
💷 Adults £8, Concession £4.50, U16’s FREE
💰 Cash/Card gate
🎟️ Fanbase
⬇️ Tickets ⬇️https://t.co/UoapGJG55I
🖤🤍⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wOJs1Vgopi
Haynes was pleased with the character of his team, who begin the second half of the season by welcoming Hill of Beath Hawthorn to New Countess Park on Saturday.
He said: “That is why we brought Dylan in.
“He is a good finisher and he always creates chances.
“I’m pretty confident in every game he plays that he will have a chance.”
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