After an opening-day 4-1 victory in Fife over last year’s bottom side Crossgates Primrose, Dunbar faced what seemed a considerably sterner test on Saturday when they welcomed Whitburn Juniors to New Countess Park – the West Lothian men are one of the favourites to challenge for the title and hadn’t lost at Dunbar since 1998.

Seasiders’ boss Geoff Jones made three changes to the XI who’d started at Crossgates, with ‘keeper John Johnstone, Ross Colquhoun and Darren Handling replacing Connor Wood, Steven Girdwood and Dean Ballantyne.

Things could hardly have got off to a better start for Dunbar, who found themselves a goal up with less than a minute played when Shaun Hill’s cross was met by a glancing header from skipper Steven Tait which directed the ball towards the bottom corner.

Whitburn tried to respond with a Russell header which went just over the bar, but the pace of Handling and Chris Grant was posing their defence problems and both teams had opportunities for the second goal before Dunbar doubled their lead with half an hour played. Hill’s low shot was halted by Handling in the visitors’ penalty area and the youngster confidently rifled it beyond Whitburn keeper Horne. Sam Young came close to a third goal for Dunbar when he shot narrowly over the bar, and the visitors’ frustrations resulted in a couple of bookings.

Whitburn pushed forward after the restart in an attempt to gain a foothold back into the game, which materialised on 51 minutes when the referee awarded them a penalty after Andy Common was judged to have fouled Taylor, and Russell netted. Horne saved from Handling in Dunbar’s next attack shortly afterwards, then around the hour mark Handling and Young both threatened the visitors’ goal.

The Seasiders’ back four defended resolutely when called upon, while their frontmen looked dangerous – Handling and Young were again frustrated when Horne pulled off excellent saves. Hill had a decent effort go close for Dunbar, while at the other end Grant Thomson cleared when Whitburn’s Duncan beat the offside trap.

Ballantyne could have wrapped things up for Dunbar but Horne again saved well – in the end it didn’t matter as the Seasiders ran out winners by the odd goal in three, remaining joint top of the formative South Division table as a result.

Blackburn United await Dunbar in West Lothian tomorrow and they’re expected to provide as equally tough a test as neighbours Whitburn – were the Seasiders to achieve a third successive victory it would be a real confidence boost.