DELIGHTED Dunbar boss Geoff Jones hailed his side’s battling spirit after coming from 2-1 down with 10 men against Musselburgh to snatch victory.

The game seemed to be up for the Seasiders, who had led through Dean Ballantyne, when Liam Peden was sent off with the visitors in front.

However, late goals from Darren McCraw and Ballantyne turned the game on its head and ensured it was Dunbar who got off to a winning start.

He said: “I think what it gives us is a real belief that we are always in games. You find something out about yourselves.

“Dean had missed a couple of chances he would normally score but he then has got the courage to keep going and get the winner in the last minute.

“You can take so much belief and heart from a result like that.”

Dunbar and Musselburgh shared Conference A in the East of Scotland League last year, with the Honest Toun outfit finishing some 11 points clear of their rivals.

However, Dunbar managed to get off to a winning start at New Countess Park, with fellow county side Tranent also picking up maximum points on day one of the new season.

Jones said: “I’m still trying to come down from it. It was just one of those games that you do not get too often – it must have been amazing to watch as a supporter.

“In the end, it was really good, although 10 minutes from time it was not so good.

“A credit to ourselves for winning with 10 men.

“We really should have been out of sight and found ourselves 2-1 down and huffing and puffing.”

Jones was pleased to see his side get off to a winning start, particularly knowing they also had to play Penicuik Athletic and Hill of Beath Hawthorn in their next two fixtures.

The manager said: “I told the boys that you have to try to take care of the home games this years.

“We have to prepare this season with broad shoulders and take some lows when we are playing the bigger teams away from home.

“It is going to hard.

“If we don’t play to our potential then we could be on the end of a doing.”