Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter | Sport

Friday, 29th August, 2008

Published: Tuesday, 22nd July, 2008 10:10

Sons make a first of it

By David Christie

Morton 1 Dumbarton 0

IT was a series of unwanted firsts for Dumbarton on Friday night as they suffered their first friendly defeat in their first home game against a side from the First Division.

But it was not all doom and gloom for Sons supporters, who watched a spirited display against their local rivals.

Boss Jim Chapman was without Paul Keegan, Alan Gourlay and Liam Cusack — the trio floored by an infection.

But he was still able to field a strong attack-minded team against the physical First Division opposition.

Iain Chisholm and Derek Carcary provided the firepower, with Stevie Murray ferreting to support them at every opportunity.

New signing Ben Gordon started at centre-half, the former St Mirren U19 and Strathclyde University player having agreed to a one-year deal earlier in the week.

Their opponents Morton did not look like a team who had suffered three straight losses against Ayr United, Hartlepool United and Celtic in the space of a week.

In fact, almost 600 supporters — and Sons mascot Pellie the Elephant — watched the boys in blue and white control the opening exchanges.

Robbed

Cappielow winger Jim McAlister enjoyed plenty of possession, showing neat touches including a nutmeg on Murray which left the diminutive midfielder blushing.

In the 15th minute he played a neat one-two with Iain Russell down the left but his shot from eight yards went wide with Sons keeper David McEwan scrambling.

It was largely one-way traffic as Morton striker Brian Wake was then inches away from latching onto another McAlister effort as McEwan spilled his cross only to gather at the second attempt.

Murray skied a free-kick in a rare attempt on goal before Andy Geggan went slightly closer after a neat passage of play down the right.

On the half hour Ross Clark made a surging run from midfield and fed Geggan who crossed deep but Chisholm, with space at the back post, headed over.

The home side were enjoying a better spell and Clark saw a penalty claim turned down after Murray had robbed Morton full-back Alan Reid.

But only a double save from McEwan prevented the visitors forging ahead on the stroke of half-time before a dubious off-side decision in the final minute chalked off Russell’s finish.

Dumbarton showed more attacking intent after the break but Colin Stewart remained untested in the Ton goal. And with half an hour left to play former Gretna midfielder Ryan McGuffie scored what proved to be the only goal of the game.

Masterton delivered a powerful free-kick 35 yards out which McEwan stooped to collect but couldn’t hold and McGuffie pounced to fire home.

Chapman soon rang the changes but despite David Gray’s stinging late drive the Sons could not claw back the deficit and Morton held on for the win. Dumbarton face SPL side St Mirren tonight.

Dumbarton: McEwen (McGeown 65), Geggan, Wilson (Brittain 65), O’Byrne (Lennon 65), Gordon (McLaughlin 75), Canning, Clark, Logan (Tiernan 62), Chisholm (Gray 62), Carcary, Murray.

Morton: Stewart, trialist, trialist, Weatherson, Paartalu, Masterton, Finlayson, McGuffie, Wake (Newby 52), Russell, McAlister. Subs not used: Walker, trialist, trialist, McGeough, Mitchell, McAnespie, Kerrigan.

Social Bookmarking What are these?