Sons undone by smart Alec

Published 15 Dec 2009 09:00

Dumbarton 0 East Fife 3

DUMBARTON crashed to defeat at home to East Fife on Saturday and on the balance of play, they can have little complaint.

Long before the end the home support forlornly hoped the swirling fog would deteriorate sufficiently to influence the game - it didn't.

East Fife looked the sharper side throughout against a home side who were unchanged for the fifth successive game.

Following a very low key beginning, Dumbarton almost took the lead midway through the first half when a snapshot from Andy Geggan beat goalkeeper Michael Brown but crashed off the post.

Shortly after, a Stevie Murray cross found Roddy Hunter inside the box but he could not direct his header beyond the keeper.

The visitors gradually took command and a Bobby Linn shot from 30 yards had Jan Vojacek scrambling before going just wide. Then the same player had a free header from a Young cross, but headed tamely wide.

The opening goal was only delayed a few minutes as the visitors went ahead on 36 minutes.

The Dumbarton defence failed to fully clear a cross from Keith Watson and from the loose ball Young squared the ball for predator Paul McManus to push the ball beyond the helpless Vojacek.

Before the interval Smith had to be alert to block a shot from Watson whilst at the other end, another Murray cross could not be converted by Hunter.

Eight minutes into the second half the visitors scored the decisive goal. From a corner on the right, the ball fell to Johnathan Smart who scored with an overhead kick.

Dumbarton introduced Denis McLaughlin and Chris Craig into the attack in an attempt to save the game, but the visitors were always dangerous on the counter.

Ross O'Donoghue drove Dumbarton forward, but too often he was forced to shoot from outside the box and the keeper remained untroubled. McLaughlin had two clear looks at goal, but failed to hit the target on either occasion.

As Dumbarton threw caution to the wind, East Fife created a number of good opportunities, notably when Jamie McCunnie drove wide from a good position and when player-manager Stevie Crawford forced Vojacek to punch clear.

Late in the game, David Young and Lloyd Muir broke clear and only a superb last-ditch challenge from Smith prevented a clear goal-scoring opportunity. In the final minute Paul Sludden got to the goal-line and his cross was easily despatched by David Muir. Jim Chapman accepted the responsibility for the performance when he said: "I cannot fault the players. They have done well recently and although I contemplated changes, I decided to show faith in them. It proved to be a step too far. We came up against an East Fife side who played some of the best football we have seen this season."

"We had some players with tired legs and tired minds. We will pick ourselves up for the game at Stirling on Tuesday when changes will be made.

"It is up to the players who come in to show what they are made of."

Dumbarton: Vojacek, O'Donoghue, Smith, Dunlop, Gordon, McStay, (McLaughlin, 56) Chisholm, Chaplain, Hunter, Geggan, (Craig, 62) Murray. Subs Not Used: Clark, McNiff, White.

East Fife scorers: (McManus 37, Smart 53, Muir 89) Referee: G Salmond. Attendance: 628.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 15 Dec 09

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