Camelon Juniors’ East of Scotland Premier Division season got back on track last Saturday as they bounced back with a derby day victory.

The Mariners’ previous league outing was a frustrating 5-4 loss away to Whitburn – and they got back to winning ways at local rivals Dunipace to round off a historic 2025 in style.

Zander Miller and Ross Kavanagh both scored early goals at DCL Westfield to secure a 2-1 win for Tam Scobbie’s side, who leapfrogged the ‘Pace in the process to move into fourth spot.

Camelon sit on 36 points after only 15 matches played, and they have three games in hand over the teams directly above them in the table.

Zander Miller is mobbed by his Camelon Juniors team-mates after opening the scoring (Pics by Michael Gillen)

placeholder image — Zander Miller is mobbed by his Camelon Juniors team-mates after opening the scoring (Pics by Michael Gillen)

Gaffer Scobbie hailed his players’ attitude after the win – revealing that he set them up in a more defensive shape.

“It is a great three points at a difficult venue,” former Falkirk full-back Scobbie said. “They’ve been doing really well in the league and I know that they have some great players.

"But we came here with a game plan and we set up well in that structure. We were more defensive today in terms of not pressing as high up the park and it worked to a tee.

"In the first 20/25 minutes, we managed to score two goals on the transition and we could have scored a couple more.

"They got the goal back but in the second half we simply had to be difficult to beat and the guys stayed in their structure. I’m really proud of them for doing that.”

The Mariners now begin 2025 with three home games on the spin at the Moore Equipment Hire Stadium.

And they couldn’t be bigger with two league outings against second-bottom Sauchie Juniors up first this Saturday before local side Bo’ness Athletic visit the following Saturday.

Following that up is the Mariners’ historic Scottish Cup fourth-round tie against SPFL League Two outfit Elgin City at home.

“The boys are all on good form and they are all playing well individually,” Scobbie said. “It’s tough for me picking a starting eleven! Everyone wants to play every weekend.

“It’s been a great end to 2025 and we now we have a massive three home games coming up in the month on January.”

Reviewing the 2-1 loss at DCL Westfield, ‘Pace boss Danny Smith admitted that the Mariners’ fast start gave his ‘Pace side too much to do in the end despite a much better second half showing.

He said: “We didn’t start the game well. Camelon had an opportunity or two before they scored their opener, credit where it is due. They started the game better than we did. We found ourselves a couple of goals down, and it actually felt like that was what kick-started us into life a wee bit.

"We got to grips with things, got a goal back, and there was then more in the game for us. We are chasing the game a little bit at half time. But I really felt that if we managed to get that second goal, then we would have gone on to win the match. We looked like a far better footballing team than Camelon.”

Willie Irvine’s Bo’ness Athletic drew 0-0 away to Sauchie in their Premier Division outing last weekend.