Sons suffer another heavy defeat

Published 18 Aug 2009 16:00

Dumbarton rue missed opportunities

A DRAMATIC last minute at Arbroath almost saw Dumbarton seal an unlikely first point of the season - but they ended up on the wrong end of a second successive 3-1 defeat.

Jim Chapman made a few changes from last week's home defeat to Alloa.

Young stopper Michael White came in to replace the injured Dave McEwan, while teenager Martin McNiff took the place of Stevie Murray, who failed to make the squad at all.

Roddy Hunter started his first competitive game for Dumbarton while fans' favourite Ryan McStay had to settle for a place on the bench alongside former Airdrie and Dundee striker Simon Lynch, listed as a trialist.

Not for the first time at Arbroath the strong wind blowing down the park would play a significant part in the outcome.

Despite playing against the elements in the first half, Dumbarton started brightly, trying to pass the ball, although just failing to find that killer pass.

After 15 minutes and against the run of play, Arbroath took the lead with a spectacular goal when the ball fell to midfielder Barry Sellars, who after spotting White off his line, lobbed the ball home from all of 60 yards.

The remainder of the half followed the same pattern with Arbroath shooting on sight with Sellars, Jamie Bishop and Steven Doris all firing wide of the target.

Early into the second half and Arbroath scored their second as Steve Hislop rose unchallenged to head home from a corner.

Apart from one Derek Carcary effort, easily saved by Darren Hill, Dumbarton only really looked promising on the end of McNiff's long throws

As time ran out Dumbarton started to shoot from distance, but two Clark efforts and an Andy Geggan attempt were all off target.

But in the last 10 minutes Dumbarton began to test the resolve of the home defence.

The Sons then threw themselves a lifeline with one minute to go after an Iain Chisholm throw-in fell to Roddy Hunter, who steered the ball into the bottom

corner of the net.

Dumbarton could have won the game when Chisholm found the goal at his mercy six yards out but failed to make any contact - when the slightest touch would have secured a point.

Darren Hill collected the ball, distributed early and within seconds substitute Robbie Ross swept the ball behind White at the other end to seal the victory.

Jim Chapman felt aggrieved after the final whistle as the conditions hampered the level of football on show.

He said: "Although you could say the elements were the same for both teams, one team was trying to play football but we couldn't in the conditions."

The Sons will be looking for their first point this year when Clyde come to visit the Strathclyde Homes Stadium on Saturday.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 18 Aug 09

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