Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter | Sport

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Tuesday, 26th August, 2008 10:30

Shirra shot stuns Sons

By Alan Findlay

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Dumbarton 1 Stenhousemuir 2

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Sons in action

Pic by: Alex Craig

A LAST-MINUTE winner by Stenny’s Andrew Shirra ended Sons unbeaten league run and left the large home crowd stunned.

Shirra’s sweet 18-yard drive was right out of the top drawer, cancelling out sub Paul Keegan’s equaliser.

Sons went into the game once again hampered by injury, with Derek Carcary joining Michael Moore, Mark Canning and Mike Dunlop on the sidelines.

But the home crowd were boosted by the presence of Andy Geggan, who shook off a knock against Elgin to take a place on the bench alongside goalscorer Keegan.

Dumbarton started sluggishly and home keeper David McEwan had to look lively in the early exchanges.

Sons first effort of note arrived on 15 minutes when Fergus Tiernan burst through from midfield, running onto a superb Ross Clark pass, but the former Aberdeen man failed to bring the ball under control.

And, as has happened in every league match this season, Dumbarton fell behind.

Warriors’ Chris McGroarty’s effort on 20 minutes was blocked, but the ball landed at the feet of Kevin Motion who cleverly planted it behind McEwan.

Dumbarton nearly found themselves two down on the half-hour mark when good combination work by Motion and Desmond carved open the Sons defence.

Thankfully for the home defence, Motion’s effort was weak and never troubled McEwan. Somewhat relieved, Sons looked to gather themselves together at half-time.

They started the second period well, with Warriors’ keeper Kieron Renton pulling off a great save from makeshift striker Iain Chisholm, pushing the ex-Albion Rovers midfielder’s excellent effort over the bar.

Having seen enough, gaffer Jim Chapman soon

re-organised his troops with a double substitution. On came Alan Gourlay and Keegan, replacing a tired Tiernan and the ineffective David Gray.

Almost immediately, Sons nearly equalised. From a Stevie Murray cross, Logan’s header was palmed out by the Warriers goalie to the feet of Keegan, who somehow hit the post with the goal gaping.

At the other end, McEwan saved well from Dalziel, tipping the striker’s shot just round the post. He then thwarted a Motion free-kick which could have ended the contest on 70 minutes.

A minute later and Dumbarton were back in the game. Gordon Lennon’s superb cross-field pass released full-back Craig Brittain, whose low cross found the brave Keegan sliding in at the back post to equalise.

The goal looked to have secured at least a point for Sons, but lack of concentration deep into injury time cost the home team dearly.

With seconds left, Shirra took full advantage of poor defending to fire home a rasping 18-yard drive and with it took all three points back to Larbert.

A disappointing day for Dumbarton and the result puts the Sons four points behind new leaders Cowdenbeath.

But with the visit of bottom club East Stirling to the Strathclyde Homes Stadium this Saturday, a win would certainly be a boost to the ambitions of promotion.

Dumbarton: McEwan, Lennon, O’Byrne, Gordon, Brittain, Gray (Gourlay 55), Clark, Logan, Murray, Chisholm, Tiernan (Keegan 55). Subs Not Used: Geggan, Wilson, McGeown.

Stenhousemuir: Renton, Lyle, Ovenstone, Smith, McGroarty, Desmond (Tyrrell 77), Shirra, Ferguson, Motion, Dalziel, Brand (Hampshire 75). Subs Not Used: Thomson, Brazil, Bennett.

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