Chappy pleads for fans' unity

Published 22 Sep 2009 15:57

See also:

Sons have pro mentality

Dumbarton...............0 Cowdenbeath............3

DUMBARTON slumped to the foot of the league after a

comprehensive home defeat to Cowdenbeath.

Previous defeats this season had redeeming features but not this time - and on the final whistle, Dumbarton fans showed their displeasure at recent results.

Cowdenbeath outplayed Dumbarton in every department on the field on Saturday.

And Sons manager Jim Chapman admitted after the game: "The fans are entitled to their opinion but we don't send sides out to play badly.

"The negativity does not help. It does not take intelligence to be negative and it is easy to be negative.

"By definition supporters should support the team in times of trouble and we need them now.

"We will continue to work hard in training as it is now time to produce. We are not quitters."

Chapman again rung the changes with goalkeeper Dave McEwan, Ben Gordon, midfielder Adam Strachan and winger Stevie Murray being restored to the starting line up.

New Czech goalkeeper Jan Vojacek was suspended after last week's red card, while Ross Harvey, Scott Chaplain and Chris Craigall dropped to the bench.

The game started brightly for Sons when a Roddy Hunter shot was easily collected by Cowdenbeath goalkeeper David Hay, then a Derek Carcary effort grazed the outside of the post in the opening minutes.

Cowden's first foray forward saw a long ball forward find Gareth Wardlaw in space, but his effort was easily collected by McEwan.

Scott McBride missed a glorious chance to open the scoring when a Brian Fairbairn cross found him in front of goal but the ball struck his standing leg and bounced to safety.

A minute later he made amends when a left-wing cross was miscued by Martin McNiff and McBride drove the ball past McEwan.

Dumbarton responded with a Hunter shot from 30 yards which Hay saved spectacularly, but in 23 minutes the visitors doubled their advantage.

Another Fairbairn cross caught out the Dumbarton defence and Wardlaw headed home from close range.

In 35 minutes Hunter headed a Murray cross wide from good position before Murray and Carcary combined to set up Hunter, but his shot was saved by Hay at his near post.

The second half belonged entirely to the visitors.

Two minutes after the restart, a scramble in the Dumbarton penalty area handed the Blue Brazil three shots at goal before Chris Smith deflected the ball away for a corner.

After 53 minutes the points were sealed when a square pass from Murray found McBride in splendid isolation 25 yards out.

He had time to control the ball before

despatching an unstoppable drive beyond the reach of McEwan high into the net.

On the hour mark, only a fine save from McEwan kept out a Jay Stein effort.

This proved to be the final goalscoring opportunity as Cowdenbeath controlled the game.

Try as they might, Dumbarton could make no impression on the visitors' goal and all too often passes went astray before reaching the danger zone.

DUMBARTON: McEwan, Geggan, Smith, McNiff, Gordon, McStay, Strachan, (Chaplain 67), O'Donoghue, Hunter, Carcary, Murray (McLaughlin 67)

Subs not used: Chisholm, Craig, White

Referee: G Hilland. Attendance: 647.

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