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Dumbarton 2 v 0 Albion Rovers |  |
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Dumbarton 2 v 0 Albion Rovers | |
| Irn-Bru League Third Division 25th August 2007 |
Attendance : 654
Scorers ~ Dumbarton : Coyne (12, 62 pen).
Buoyed by an unbeaten run in the league and a direct train service more than usual Albion Rovers fans headed west only to be left scratching their heads in disbelief as their team failed to perform against a distinctly average Dumbarton side. Oddly midfield dynamo Jamie McKenzie was watching the game from the stand despite not appearing to be carrying any injury.
Dumbarton could have opened the scoring in four minutes when a ball by former Rover Dave McFarlane came in low ball across close to the goal but Tommy Coyne couldn't make contact for what would have been an easy tap-in.
In 12 minutes Coyne did score after McFarlane supplied the ball and his first attempt rebounded from David Scott. There were claims for a foul on the young 'keeper but Mr. Robertson awarded the scrambled goal.
McFarlane came close himself when through the defence he missed an open goal. Rovers had a chance themselves in 31 minutes when Graeme Watson crossed for Barry Donald to head disappointingly far off target.
A superbly timed challenge by Iain Chisholm on Robert Campbell from the side halted the striker in his tracks in what seemed a strong position. In 39 minutes a Sons cross into Rovers box looked dangerous but the assembled attack force couldn't get a touch before it went to safety.
David Craig having his effort stopped by Scott ended the first period.
Half-Time
A half-time substitution by John McCormack saw Robert Walker make his debut replacing Scott Friel. A Dumbarton corner caused some concern in 51 minutes but Niall Henderson fired the ball too high to trouble Scott between the sticks.
In 62 minutes things got worse for Rovers when Fergus Tiernan was adjudged to have been brought down in the Rovers box. Generally seen as a rather soft award, nonetheless Coyne bagged his second of the afternoon from the spot.
Six minutes later Rovers came close when former East Stirlingshire 'keeper Anton Nugent pulled off a decent save from substitute David Dimilta followed by David Craig clearing off the line when the ball returned a second later.
McFarlane was again a thorn in Rovers side when he played the ball out to Tiernan whose shot was wide of the mark. With a few minutes remaining some good play by Rovers around the Sons box ended with Ciaran Donnelly launching the ball high over the crossbar.
Summary
Rovers could hardly have their efforts described as a performance and were well beaten by a side who hardly got into top gear themselves.
Dumbarton : Nugent; Canning, Russell, O'Byrne, Craig, Henderson, Hamilton, Tiernan, Coyne, McFarlane, Campbell (McQuilken 81). Subs Not Used : Gentile, Haswell, McNaught, Shaw.
Albion Rovers : Scott, Graeme Watson, Reid, Donnelly, Benton, Donald, Chisholm (McGeough 74), Friel (Robert Walker 46), Smith, Patrick Walker (Dimilta 53), Wright. Subs Not Used : McGowan, Thompson.
Referee : T. Robertson
