Dumbarton Football Club - Sons of the Rock 1872

Dumbarton (0) v Greenock Morton (0)

Sunday 25th July 2010, Kick Off 3pm

Alba Challenge Cup

DUMBARTON exited the ALBA Challenge Cup at the first hurdle - but pushed First Division Morton all the way to penalties.

This was a game that had everything except goals, as the teams forced several chances, but came up against two in-form keepers.

Sons' Stephen Grindlay produced some magnificent saves, while opposite number Colin Stewart was also on form when needed.

In the end, though, Stewart's save from Ryan McStay won the shoot-out for Morton and sent them through to round two.

The visitors were quickest to get started, as Stewart Kean, Allan Jenkins and Peter Weatherson all forced saves from Grindlay.

Allan McManus - playing against the club that dismissed him as joint manager at the end of last season - also made a block to stop Kean at close range.

Sons then found their stride and Ross Campbell played in Scott Chaplain, but the midfielder's effort was stopped by Stewart.

A Graham Wilson corner was also bending towards goal until the keeper turned it over the bar just in time.

On 27 minutes came an oustanding save from Grindlay, turning away Kean's shot at close range.

In the second half, an Andy Geggan shot from distance was saved, while a Michael Tidser effort went close for Morton.

Ross Campbell was next to test Stewart, while at the other end, Grindlay again denied Kean with another exceptional save from a header.

With two minutes remaining a Graeme Holmes cross fell to Kean two yards out, but he sliced wide.

Holmes again set Kean up in the first period of extra time, but Grindlay again was on form.

Each side had chances during the second extra spell, but the best of them fell to Dumbarton at the death.

Ben Gordon's free kick found Paul Maxwell's head, and his effort was netbound only for Stewart to turn it over.

It was then on to penalties, and the shoot-out started badly for Sons when Campbell's shot hit the bar.

The next seven penalties were all scored, with Holmes, Tidser, David O'Brien and Kevin Kelbie finding the net for Morton to be countered by Alan Cook, Martin McNiff and Geggan.

Then Stewart saved from McStay to seal the second round place for Morton at the end of a match neither side deserved to lose.

Dumbarton: Grindlay; Nugent, McNiff, McManus, Gordon, McStay, Geggan, Chaplain (Maxwell 97), Campbell, Carcary (Cook 99), Wilson (Brannan 84). Subs: Chisholm, White. Booked: Geggan, Nugent, Gordon, McStay.

Morton: Stewart; McGregor, McKinlay, Smyth, Evans, Tidser, Holmes, Jenkins (Bachirou 83), Weatherson (Kelbie 83), Kean, Monti (O'Brien 68). Subs: Shepherd, Cuthbert. Booked: Tidser.

Referee: Stephen Finnie