Dumbarton 1 v 1 Albion Rovers 
Division 3
15th September 2001
Dumbarton 1 v 1 Albion Rovers
Division 3
15th September 2001
Attendance : 581
Scorers ~ Dumbarton : Flannery (77). Albion Rovers : Booth (53).
The good, the bad - and the downright dreadful. That sums up this performance by a Rovers’ outfit which even professor Steven Hawking would find difficult to explain. How can a team do well against the statutory eleven opponents, take the lead when there were only ten of them, then against nine, fall apart to such a degree that not only did the numerically depleted Sons cope, but actually looked as if they could win the game? There’s just no logical answer.
Cammy Melville, the pathetically inefficient referee who contrived to issue eight yellow cards as well as one straight red, was the object of wrath from both sets of supporters, for with a total of fifty-seven fouls being called by the official, his whistle was seldom silent. We’ve seen some poor referees in the last couple of years, but this display must rank as possibly the worst of the lot. Nevertheless, although Mr. Melville’s constant and contentious interruptions did nothing for the game, it was Rovers who by their own shortcomings, latterly threw away two points which should have been safely tucked away in their hamper long before the end.
In the early stages, Sons were awarded a couple of free kicks, from the first of which Andy Brown struck the crossbar. Chris Silvestro had a drive deflected for a corner, then a Mark Booth free-kick from all of thirty-five yards brought out a good save from home ‘keeper John Hillcoat. In 36 minutes, Dumbarton were reduced to ten men when defender Michael Dickie was red-carded for apparent use of an elbow, but the ten men held out unscathed until the interval.
Five minutes after the restart, Sons’ Kevin McCann picked up a booking for a foul - a moment which was to cost him dear later on. With the clock showing 53 minutes, Rovers at last took the lead through a stunning strike from Mark Booth who gathered the ball on the left and strode through the home defenders to unleash an unstoppable drive which whizzed past Hillcoat on its way to the net. Seven minutes later, McCann disputed a decision and showed a little tantrum by hurling the ball to the ground. "Obvious dissent" indicated Mr. Melville, and the big midfielder saw yellow for the second time.
Faced with only nine men, Rovers surged forward time after time, and should have scored a second in 65 minutes when a good move involving substitute David Carr, Ryan McMullan and Chris Silvestro left the latter near the back post with the goal gaping. Unfortunately, he was unable to control his shot and the ball cleared the target by a wide margin. Some minutes later, an error of judgement by Todd Lumsden almost led to disaster before the situation was cleared, but nine-man Sons were visibly gaining in confidence moment by moment and it was no real surprise when substitute Craig Brittain sent over an accurate cross which ace predator Paddy Flannery rose to head strongly past Chris Fahey. Then, with only two minutes left, Andy Brown almost capitalised on defensive slackness when his long lob was just wide.
At the final whistle, there’s no doubt the Dumbarton were happy with a point, and having had only nine men for the last half hour, they were certainly entitled to feel satisfied.
As well as Dickie and McCann seeing red, Sons had Joe Robertson and Mark Crilly booked. Rovers’ Stewart Easton, Todd Lumsden, Steve Hamilton and Chris Silvestro were also yellow-carded, the latter seeming to have been conned by the cunning Flannery.
Dumbarton : Hillcoat, Dickie, Dillon (Lynes 59), Stewart, McKeown, McCann, Bonar, Crilly, Flannery (McKelvie 88), Brown, Robertson (Brittain 68). Unused : Jack, Wight.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, Hamilton, Lumsden (McKenna 82), Smith, Tait, Booth, Waldie, Easton (Ingram 82), McMullan, McCormick (Carr 62), Silvestro. Unused : Harty, Shearer.
Referee : C Melville.
Man of the Match : Mark Booth
