Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter | Sport

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Tuesday, 7th October, 2008 12:30

Sons soar to second

By Alan Findlay

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Dumbarton 4 Annan Athletic 1

Image related to story, see caption or article text

SENSATIONAL: Sons players celebrate yet another goal

Pic by: Alex Craig

A SENSATIONAL first-half four-goal blitz ensured Dumbarton finish the first quarter of the season on a high.

Sons well-deserved victory over league newcomers Annan Athletic means Jim Chapman’s troops now lie in a very respectable second spot in the division — a perfect platform to build on for the rest of the campaign.

The home side, fielding the same outfield 10 players as the previous three matches, started the game with a flurry.

Paul McLeod, so much a sinner in last week’s draw at Forfar, had a glorious opportunity to give Dumbarton an early lead. Reacting first to a superb through pass from Keegan, the ex-Hamilton match found himself facing only Annan keeper Dougie Calder, but his weak shot was easily saved.

Sons looked certain to break the deadlock and it was no surprise their early dominance paid off after six minutes. Captain Gordon Lennon raced up the right flank, delivered a daisy-cutting cross and the unfortunate Watson turned the ball past his keeper into the net.

Despite Sons domination, Annan bravely fought back into the match and Sons stand-in keeper Mark McGeown had to be alert to snuff out a couple of crosses from the Athletic front line.

Dumbarton came closest to scoring again with McLeod on the end of another opportunity to put Sons further ahead. Clark released the Sons No 9, but again he failed to beat Calder.

On the half-hour Sons went two up. Derek Carcary, having a superb match on the left flank, hared past his opposite full-back, drilled in a low cross allowing Keegan to expertly double Dumbarton’s lead. This was a real striker’s goal from the big Irishman.

Sons closed the game out five minutes later with Carcary again the architect. Annan keeper Calder brought down the ex-Raith man inside the box, allowing Clark to score from resulting penalty-kick. 3-0 to the Sons and it was a devastating display of football from the home side.

Annan’s only answer to Sons skill factor appeared to be bully boy tactics and one incident left the home fans in a state of apoplexy. Stevie Murray found himself in a crumpled heap after a quite outrageous two-footed lunge by Annan’s Graeme Bell, a tackle which ended the wee man’s involvement in the game.

The ref, standing only feet from the incident, waved play-on leaving home players and fans incensed.

Chapman’s men continued to press and right on the stroke of half-time scored a fourth. Carcary, who was having the time of his life on the wing, yet again provided a superb cross to the near post where defender Hill turned into his own net under pressure from McLeod.

The second half started with a bang when Mick O’Byrne clattered into Bell in what looked like an act of revenge for the earlier incident.

This time though the ref correctly called for the foul and booked the big centre-half.

Keegan was then denied a fifth goal for Dumbarton after that man Carcary had set him up from 10 yards. A desperate stretch from a defender diverted Keegan’s shot wide.

Annan’s hopes of a comeback were raised on the hour mark with what was undoubtedly the goal of the game. Alan Inglis’ 30-yard free-kick was a real screamer and it flew past McGeown’s despairing dive.

Sons final effort of note in what was a dull second half in comparison to the first, fell to Paul Keegan. Substitute Liam Cusack, on for the injured Murray, created an opening for the Irishman from 12 yards, but his effort only troubled the ball boys behind Calder’s goal.

Sons now sit on 16 points and in second place after the first nine games of the season. Jim Chapman would be perfectly right to be content with this start, and so he should be. However, a lot of hard work remains as Dumbarton fight to be considered serious promotion contenders.

On the form of the last three weeks, expecations are once again high, and rightly so. The international weekend means no game for Dumbarton, with the next match a mouthwatering trip to Montrose, a game that Sons are more than capable of winning.

Dumbarton: McGeown, Lennon, O’Byrne, Gordon, Wilson, Carcary, Clark, Geggan, Murray (Cusack 55), McLeod, Keegan (Michael Moore 87). Subs Not Used: Canning, Logan, White.

Annan Athletic: Calder, Watson, Hill, Townsley, Inglis, Sloan, Jack, Jardine, Adamson (Walker 79), Dunbar, Bell (Archibald 53). Subs Not Used: Johnstone, Grainger, Summersgill.

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