Dumbarton 2 v 0 Albion Rovers 
Division 3
26th January 2002
Dumbarton 2 v 0 Albion Rovers
Division 3
26th January 2002
Attendance : 686
Scorers ~ Dumbarton : Robertson (63, 78)
In this niggly match which did absolutely nothing to enhance Rovers’ hitherto growing reputation, referee John Gilmour seemed determined to incur the wrath of both sets of supporters - and did so with a fair degree of success. While it’s freely admitted that Dumbarton had the lion’s share of the play and that Rovers were far short of the scintillating form which destroyed East Stirlingshire last week, Mr Gilmour’s continual stopping of the play did not help matters and with players almost afraid to make contact with an opponent, the result was a fragmented game which never reached even Third Division heights.
Dumbarton stormed into attack right away and had Rovers on the back foot for a spell, the only relief coming in the shape of a long Charlie McLean run which ended disappointingly in a poor shot across goal and beyond the far post. Rovers gradually made tracks out of their own half and a splendid run by Paul Bonar also came to nothing when his final pass found McLean in an offside position. In 14 minutes, Sons’ Joe Robertson - a man whose contribution to the match would eventually be absolute - missed a glorious chance to put his side ahead. In quite a confined space close to goal, he beat three defenders and looked certain to score but to the visitors’ relief somehow managed to fire his shot outside a post.
With goalmouth incidents at a premium, the match had developed into a rather uninspiring midfield contest in which honest endeavour was not enough to lift it out of the doldrums. Just after the half hour, Sons’ Paddy Flannery and Rovers’ Gerry McKenna became Mr Gilmour’s first customers, followed into the book shortly afterwards by Todd Lumsden. Just before the break there was a sudden flurry of activity when Dumbarton’s Kevin McCann and Rovers’ Charlie McLean found their particulars required, there were no takers for a good cross by Bonar and the injured Steve McCormick was replaced by Martin Harty. Within seconds of coming on, the substitute was hauled down in the box but the referee simply waved play on, much to the anger of all the visitors.
In the 54th minute Harty fired in a low shot which was saved by home ‘keeper John Wight. While the shot itself was unremarkable, it was Rovers’ first on target since the start of the game. Then Sons’ Michael Dickie was booked and in the 61st minute, Rovers introduced Scott Murdoch at the expense of Jamie McKenzie. Within another couple of minutes, Dumbarton suddenly found themselves in the lead. A cross by Dickie was headed back across goal by big Andy Brown and Robertson was perfectly placed to hook the ball into the net from about fifteen yards. Although Dumbarton had looked the more likely, it was still a blow to Rovers and manager John McVeigh tried to retrieve the situation by withdrawing midfield dynamo Mark Booth and putting on another striker in the shape of Ryan McMullan.
Rovers did have a better spell after this, but it was the hosts who struck again in the 78th minute. A corner from the left was only partially cleared and Robertson, hovering around the edge of the area, smashed a daisy-cutter inside Chris Fahey’s right-hand post. This was a real blow to Rovers, but not for the first time this season, they came out fighting and might have scored before the end. In 84 minutes, a Bonar corner found a head and might have gone in had it not struck McLean almost on the goal line, before plopping into Wight’s grateful hands. Then, a minute from time, Bonar’s shot was blocked, Easton’s drive from the rebound met the same fate and Harty’s drive flashed over the crossbar. There was to be no great escape and Rovers were left wondering just what went wrong.
Dumbarton : Wight, Dickie, Brittain, McCann, McKeown, Dillon (Lynes 88), Lauchlan (Bonar 85), Crilly, Flannery, Brown (McKelvie 80), Robertson. Unused Subs : Jack, Hillcoat.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, McKenna, Lumsden, Hamilton, Easton, Booth (McMullan 69), Waldie, McKenzie (Murdoch 61), McLean, McCormick (Harty 45), Bonar. Unused Subs : Coulter, Shearer.
Referee : John Gilmour
Man of the Match : Paul Bonar
