Published: Tuesday, 24th July, 2007 10:18
CUP FINALISTS TOO STRONG
By GARE CLYDE
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THE big guns fired their late salvoes as Scottish Cup finalists and recently premier league side Dunfermline Athletic proved a distance too far for Dumbarton in Saturday�s friendly at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium.
It looked all so promising for Gerry McCabe�s emerging new stable of clever kids when Davy McFarlane struck them ahead in just 11 minutes from a fine service by fellow striker Tommy Coyne.
Four minutes later Coyne himself was denied a scoreline presence when keeper Sean Murdoch proved the master of his confident headed effort.
In the 33rd minute the smart money was on Sons going two up, but again keeper Murdoch was Pars hero with his save from McFarlane�s well directed header.
It was a warning call for Sons of a storm brewing when Pars right back Scott Thompson equalised from a set piece.
Worse was to befall the home side when Stevie Crawford put the visitors 2-1 ahead two minutes from half-time.
The first period had developed into an even contest and that continued into the second period . . . but then the Pars big guns spelt out the difference, up front, between the eagle eyed marksmen from above and the still learning apprentices below.
The Pars went on to win 5-1 but never could you have attributed such an emphatic scoreline to what was developing on the park in possession and play.
In the 54th minute the class was beginning to tell when Owen Morrison put Dunfermline 3-1 ahead , before Paul McQulken and Chris Hamilton came off the subs bench for Sons.
In the 70th minute that man of many goals, Stevie Crawford, shot his side into a 4-1 advantage with a bicycle kick which bemusedkeeper Shaw.
Sons gave airings to Alan Orr, Jason McLaughlin, Jonathan Yule and trialist Mark McGinty, formerly of Stranraer.
But it was the Pars who were nap happy minutes from time when they netted their fifth goal from the penalty spot when Jim Hamilton sent Shaw the wrong way.
The scoreline was a bit demoralising for Sons, or could have been. No towels were thrown in by them, and there was much good to be seen in their play. But like all friendlies the constant substitutions made it all a bit baffling for the fans.
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