A BID to challenge for a league title is now the focus for Dunbar United’s under-20s side after missing out on a place in the last four of a national cup.

The Seasiders travelled to Greenock Juniors on Friday hoping to continue their remarkable cup journey.

Trailing 1-0 at the break, two quickfire goals in the opening 15 minutes left them with a mountain to climb.

Adam Collin pulled one back for Stuart Allan’s side but a fourth Greenock goal four minutes later killed off their hopes of progression.

The manager was proud of his team’s efforts and stressed there was still a lot to play for this season.

He told Courier Sport: “It was not the result we wanted but, to be honest, I cannot fault the boys’ effort and what they put into the game.

“It was a tough one.

“They were a good side, a big, strong, physical side, and a couple of things did not go our way which on another night might have.

“There were points in the game where we were on top and did not score and we conceded at poor times but that is football. The boys deserve a lot of credit.”

Attention now switches to the remaining seven games of the East of Scotland Development League’s East Region.

Dunbar sit fourth in the table – alongside Preston Athletic and two points ahead of Musselburgh Athletic, who have a game in hand – four points adrift of league leaders Whitehill Welfare.

All 14 teams are back in action tomorrow evening (Friday) and Allan felt that there could be twists and turns along the way.

He said: “We are only four points off the top of the league and we have got a lot to play for.

“I said that to the team – mark it down as an achievement to get this far in the cup but we have got seven league games, cup finals.

“We have got a very, very good chance of winning it and we have got Penicuik Athletic and Whitehill Welfare to play still.

“Last year, we finished mid-table and we have already matched our points total from then and are in with a chance of winning a league.”