Spot kick heartbreak for Sons

Published 27 Jul 2010 10:00 0 Comments

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Dumbarton... 0

Morton... 0

Misses in the penalty shoot out from Ross Campbell and Ryan McStay handed Morton a route into the second round of the Alba Challenge Cup on Sunday.

There may have been no goals but this was no dull cup tie.

Morton had the greater number of chances but Dumbarton also had opportunities to progress.

Man of the match Stephen Grindlay produced a string of fine saves including two in the opening minutes to deny Stewart Keane and Allan Jenkins.

Carlo Monti tried his luck but the keeper held easily.

The same player produced a cut back for Michael Tidser to shoot, but Allan McManus blocked his effort.

On 20 minutes, Dumbarton had a great chance to take the lead when Scott Chaplain raced clear, but Colin Stewart saved with his legs.

Derek Carcary took off on a cross field run but couldn't produce a shot of note.

In the 27th minute, Grindlay produced a quite magnificent save when he clawed away a Keane effort following a cross from Monti.

It may have been the first game, but this may prove to be the save of the season.

As the interval approached, a Graham Wilson cross was knocked away from Carcary by Grant Evans and from the resultant corner, Wilson almost deceived Stewart, but the keeper managed to knock the ball to safety.

If the visitors were in the ascendancy in the first half, then Dumbarton were the better side in the second. Carcary forced an early corner which Wilson fired across the goal but there were no takers.

Grindlay had to be alert to save from Monti before play returned to the other end and Stewart saved a Carcary effort, with the rebound just evading Chaplain.

Twenty minutes from time, Chaplain had a chance from six yards but snatched at the chance and drove wide.

Morton weren't finished and McManus had to be alert to read a one-two interchange, whilst Grindlay produced another fine save to deny Tidser.

Keane created space and his cross deflected off Paul Nugent and into the arms of Grindlay.

As both sides tried to win the tie, a McNiff cross just evaded Carcary and Keane should have won it for the visitors when he fired wide from four yards with the goal gaping.

The first division side were more dominant in extra time as Grindlay had to produce stops from Keane, David O'Brien and Kevin Kelbie, with Dumbarton's first effort being a 25-yarder from Campbell, which Stewart held at the second attempt. With the final chance of the match, a Ben Gordon free-kick was headed goalwards by Paul Maxwell, but Stewart was on hand to tip the ball for a corner.

Campbell missed the first penalty of the shoot out and McStay the last whilst Morton scored all four of their attempts.

Dumbarton may be out of the Alba cup but cannot be disappointed with this display.

Dumbarton: Grindlay, Nugent, McNiff, McManus, Gordon, McStay, Geggan, Chaplain (Maxwell 97), Campbell, Carcary (Cook 101), Wilson (Brannan 85).

Subs not used: Chisholm, White.

This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 27 Jul 10

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