Walker's up for the cups
Published 27 Jul 2011 09:30
CHALLENGE Cup goal hero Pat Walker has fired Dumbarton into the next round of the competition.
And he believes it's vital the Sons perform well in cup tournaments this season.
Walker, pictured, netted a dramatic late winner against East Stirling on Sunday to secure their place in the second round of the tournament for the first time in six years.
Walker now hopes they can progress to the later stages of the Ramsdens Challenge Cup and dump First Division outfit Dundee in the League Cup this Saturday.
He said: "Cup runs are good for the club and winning will give us confidence going into the first league game of the season.
"It gives us a lift and it's good to go into the league campaign with a spring in your step."
Sons boss Alan Adamson admitted the cup tie was a nail-biter after the homesters went down to 10 men and breathed a sigh of relief at the full-time whistle.
He said: "I am more relieved to be through to the second round than anything else. We were the better team in the first half without a killer instinct.
"Shire never gave up and were never out of the game. Lyden was sent off and they were right back in the game. I thought the sending off was a little harsh on the lad.
"They scored a good goal to equalise and we were then up against it with 10 men. It says a lot about our team that they came back from losing a two-goal lead to score the winner with 10 men.
"I was so relieved as I am sure they would have posed us problems in extra time with the extra man."
Of the squad, he said: "I am happy with the players we have although we are still looking to add a player, or two.
"We need a big striker to give us some options and maybe one more but on the whole I can already see the squad developing.
"We have had a couple of injuries so far but McNiff was on the bench today and Creaney is close to restarting training.
"Each season your aim is to finish as high as you can in the league and this is no different. When I came in last season it was all about avoiding relegation. This season we need to start better and set our sights higher.
"Our form in the second half of the season shows we can compete with anyone in this league and if we can string a full season together we can be up near the top."
This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 26 Jul 11
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