Nightmare start for Sons
Published 10 Aug 2010 10:00
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Forfar Athletic... 4
Dumbarton.... 1
THE league season opened in disastrous fashion for Dumbarton as they suffered a heavy defeat at Station Park.
The visitors may have had the better of the opening half but didn’t reappear after the break and were beaten long before the final whistle.
The game opened explosively with both teams scoring in the opening five minutes.
Forfar took the lead in the second minute when a cross ball cannoned off the post and Ross Campbell was on hand to score from close in.
But within four minutes, Dumbarton were level when they were awarded a soft penalty for hand ball against Campbell. Scott Chaplain expertly slotted home for the equaliser.
Dumbarton took heart from the goal and took the initiative. In 12 minutes, Chaplain rounded goalkeeper Scott Gallagher but couldn’t find the net as two defenders got back to cover. Chaplain then set up Martin McNiff but the youngster’s shot was weak.
Forfar responded with a slick move which required an Andy Geggan sliding tackle to divert the ball for a corner.
On the half hour, Forfar’s Campbell headed wide from a right wing cross and minutes later Graham Gibson headed a Kevin Fotheringham corner wide of the far post. Dumbarton’s final opportunity of the half saw Ian Chisholm shoot weakly after a cross from Campbell.
The home side did have the ball in the net but Chris Templeman was ruled offside as he pounced on a rebound after Stephen Grindlay saved from Gibson.
With the first meaningful attack of the second half Forfar regained the lead. Templeman was allowed to pick out a pass inside the penalty area which Dale Hilson fired towards goal. Grindlay saved well but couldn’t hold the rebound from the same player.
On the hour mark, the home side scored again. Templeman rose above Allan McManus to power a Fotheringham free-kick wide of Grindlay.
Dumbarton couldn’t find a way back into the game and only had an Alan Cook free-kick which Gallagher turned for a corner to show for their efforts when a miserable day was completed when Cook tripped Bryan Deasley to concede a penalty kick which Templemand converted with ease.
Cook had to be on his mettle shortly afterwards to clear a Deasley cross. In a late rally, McNiff, Campbell and Derek Carcary all tried their luck but none troubled Gallagher in the home goal.
Dumbarton: Grindlay, Nugent, McNiff, McManus, Gordon, McStay (Carcary 57), Geggan, Chaplain, (Cook 69) Maxwell (McShane 69), Campbell, Chisholm
Subs not used: Brannan, White.
This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 10 Aug 10
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