Geoff Jones took charge of Dunbar United in a competitive match for the first time at Tranent last Wednesday night, naming six debutants in his first selection.

With Tranent also much-changed over the close season, it was hard to foresee how things might pan out.

Branley threatened first with a shot which tested Connor Wood in the Dunbar goal, whose opposite number Jack dealt comfortably with a long-range effort from Danny Taylor.

On seven minutes, though, Dunbar took the lead, Stevie Ferguson’s head flick falling for Sam Young, whose shot came back off the legs of Jack into his path, leaving him the task of stroking the ball into the net.

The hosts weren’t short of effort but didn’t truly threaten the Seasiders’ defence – at the other end, Young passed up a good opportunity, while John Twaddle went close with a fierce drive from 25 yards.

A second Dunbar goal arrived three minutes before the break to give them a comfortable half-time cushion, with Young netting from the penalty spot after Chris Grant was brought down in the box by Colquhoun.

After the break the Seasiders continued to hold the upper hand. Jamie Burstow saw his free-kick saved by Jack, who also kept out a Steven Girdwood effort and then went on to deny Young, Girdwood again and Kevin Carter as Dunbar dominated.

A third Dunbar goal eventually came in injury time when Keith Tait ran on to a long clearance and lobbed the ball over the advancing Jack.

Harthill Royal were the first league visitors to New Countess Park this season when they traversed the Lothians on Saturday in an unusually positive frame of mind, having won their opening game against Pumpherston.

Boss Jones made two changes to the Dunbar team, with Ross Cowan and Steven Girdwood starting in place of Twaddle and Ferguson.

In blustery conditions it was difficult for either side to get the ball down and play football, and Harthill’s Robertson was first to go for goal, forcing a good save from Wood.

On 23 minutes the Seasiders took the lead when Tait’s cross from the right was tucked away by Girdwood a few yards from goal.

Five minutes on, Harthill’s McLean struck the bar from 30 yards, Robertson firing wide from the rebound. Dunbar had further chances before the break from Young, Taylor and Grant but had to be content with a 1-0 interval lead.

Two minutes into the second half Dunbar netted their second goal of the afternoon, Grant’s cross from the left headed powerfully home by the prolific Young, but within five minutes Harthill had pulled a goal back. A cross from the right deceived the home defence and Robertson pounced at the back post.

Dunbar, though, restored their two-goal lead on 64 minutes, Grant outpacing the visitors’ defence before squaring the ball for Young, who made no mistake.

Grant then forced a save from Royal custodian Roberts, before Darryl Wilson and Girdwood also tested the keeper.

Harthill had occasional breaks forward but to little purpose, and Dunbar held on comfortably for a second successive win.

An interesting match awaits the Seasiders on Saturday when they visit Blackburn United, who just missed out on promotion last season. Blackburn are fancied to be contenders again but their opening results haven’t been convincing.