Dumbarton Football Club - Sons of the Rock 1872

Dumbarton (1) v East Stirling (1)

Saturday 30^th August 2008, Kick Off

Irn Bru SFL Division Three

DUMBARTON'S disappointing run of draws at home continued with East Stirling taking a point despite being reduced to 10 men.

Stevie Murray put Sons ahead and the home side gained a further advantage when Shire's Craig Tully was sent off.

However, Marc McKenzie equalised midway through the second half to make it four draws out of four after 90 minutes at home for Dumbarton this season.

Manager Jim Chapman said: "It was another case of if you don't score goals, you don't win games. You get what you deserve in this game and a lack of urgency and awareness in the box has cost us two points. It's so disappointing to dominate the match and come away with only a draw.

"One lapse cost us the goal but the longer it takes you to get goals the more pressure you put on your back line. We are not angry or ruthless enough in front of goal despite having enough chances to win the game. We are playing some good football and battering teams into submission, but we can't score.

"We know the area we have to work on but there were a lot of good things about the game. The way we went about our business was great and we probably had about 90 percent of the ball but couldn't make use of it. East Stirling had one chance and finished it.

"We are absolutely gutted but have only ourselves to blame."

Sons had two great chances in the opening three minutes, starting when Ben Gordon's header was saved at point blank range.

Then Iain Chisholm and Murray were beaten to a loose ball by the Shire defence after the keeper dropped a cross.

A Raymond Logan header was saved before Murray opened the scoring on 25 minutes.

Logan headed Derek Carcary's high ball across the goal and Murray was left with a simple finish.

Derek Ure and Brian Graham had chances as the Shire finished the half strongly, but were off target.

Sons started the second half promisingly with Ross Clark heading wide before Shire were reduced to 10 men.

The assistant referee noticed Tully's involvement in an off-the-ball incident and advised the ref to send the defender off.

The visiting keeper failed to hold Murray's long range free kick as a result, but Michael Bolochoweckyj cleared off the line.

On 68 minutes the visitors levelled when McKenzie ran onto a long ball and finished from the edge of the area.

He and Graham had chances to put the Shire in front before Sons came back in a bid for a winner.

Carcary had an effort deflected wide before Liam Cusack blasted just over in injury time.

East Stirling August 2008
Exclusive copyright photos by Donald Fullarton

Prints can be ordered by emailing dsf@btinternet.com, or by using the Contact Us facility on http://www.donaldfullartonphotos.co.uk

Stevie Murray fires home the goal (7)

Iain Chisholm celebrates the goal (8)

Andy Geggan charges forward (2)

Derek Carcary takes on a defender (5)

Ray Logan leaps to shoot (6)

Gordon Lennon ready to cross (10)

Fergus Tiernan in the goalmouth (14)

Greig Mitchell saves from Michael O'Byrne (15)

The match mascot (m)

 

Dumbarton: McEwan; Lennon, Wilson, O'Byrne, Gordon, Clark, Geggan (Gray 80), Logan (Tiernan 47), Chisholm (Cusack 52), Carcary, Murray. Subs: Brittain, McGeown.

East Stirling: Mitchell; Hay, Richardson, Bolochoweckyj, Tully, Forrest, Donaldson, Dunn (McKenzie 59), Cramb (Rodgers 21), Graham (Kelly 72), Ure. Subs: Nicholls, Newman. Booked: Richardson, Bolochoweckyj, Rodgers, Hay, Forrest, McKenzie.

Referee: Neil Watters