SFL Div 2, New Bayview, 28/8/10

League goals for predictor:- 18.

Dreadful. Simply dreadful.

The back four looked like they hadn’t met, the midfield didn’t track runners, the forwards failed to link and had no service. And the goalkeeper fails to inspire.

Apart from that everything was fine.

At least the under 19s can win a game.

We could have done with Chissie out there today. At least he makes some effort. Too many times an East Fife player walked past one of ours as if he wasn’t there.

We had three efforts on goal – all in the last three minutes when it was totally pointless.

During the game I was trying to think if this was the worst Dumbarton team I had ever seen. If it wasn’t then I’ve blanked the memory out.

Jim Chapman’s decisions about retaining (or otherwise) players at the start of the close season are coming home to roost.

Smith when he came on had a few nice touches. Gilhaney flattered to deceive, holding on to the ball far too long when he ought to have passed or crossed. Wilson didn’t do much wrong but was substituted at half time. Ditto McStay. But no-one did much right.

Grindlay is a worse goalkeeper now than he was in his previous stay with us. At the first goal he came for the cross and stopped, fell down, and so provoked a stramash in which none of our defenders thought to hack the ball away. Grindlay was still on the floor when the ball was booted in. He spilled a few straight-forward saves as well. The sooner Michael White is made number one the better.

On second thought let’s just start looking forward to a promotion campaign next season.

In Division 3.

Edited to add:- The only good thing about the game was that I finally met Simon Barrow of the blog Only Just Offside (see also my side bar.)

SFL Div 2, Somerset Park, 21/8/10

Ho-hum. Not even a penalty goal today.

We did score, though. But it was for Ayr, not ourselves.

It was the only one we lost so I lowered the predictor a touch.

Looks like we might have had a left back in the side at last.

SFL Div 2, The Rock, 14/8/10

I wasn’t at the game… but it’s not looking good.

From the BBC report it looks like another eccentric Chapman selection.

Four games in (two in the league) and we’ve scored only three goals – two of them from penalties. Old failings not remedied.

And two away games coming up.

*I haven’t changed this even though we only lost two today. Given last week goodness knows how many it might have been if they’d stayed at eleven men.

SFL Div 2, Station Park, 7/8/10

Oh.

Dear.

This was a game we dominated (in terms of possession and territory) for most of it. Yet looking at the score you’d think the opposite.

We didn’t, of course, make much of the ball when we had it.

I feared the worst as soon as they scored – on their first foray up the park. Terrible defending all round and Stephen Grindlay didn’t cover himself in glory. We then got a quick penalty for the ball striking a Forfar player’s hand which Chaplain put away. We were on for about 7-7 at that rate. The same player then had a great chance, rounding the keeper, but put it wide of a gaping goal (with his wrong foot, but still.) I was reminded a bit of Fergus Tiernan’s miss in the opening game three seasons ago at Firs Park. The season turned on that moment, I think – and we all remember how it turned out.

Another reminder of that day was that today Stephen Grindlay made a great imitation of Peter Shaw. Both the second and third Forfar goals went right through him. He wasn’t the only one to blame in each case but he was a common factor.

The front two, Maxwell and Campbell, linked up well at times but didn’t really penetrate. Chaplain was ineffective at right mid, Nugent wasn’t any better than Chissie at right back and Chissie was out of position again at left back. And we had neither width nor pace. Why no Del Boy from the start? By the time he came on it was too late.

The sad thing is Forfar didn’t have to be good to win this. They only had to turn up and sling in crosses. A glance at the Sons TV footage of pre-season would probably have told them this.

Unfortunately there will be good teams in this division. I’m not at all sanguine about Livingston at home next week.

* It ought to be 144 but I thought I’d go for a nice round number. Judging by today it’s an underestimate anyway.

Long.

Hard.

Season.

Co-operative Insurance Cup, Palmerston Park, 31/7/10

I was going to say that means Morton must be rubbish, but they hit 7 (seven)* past Stranraer today.

It’s just us, then.

*As the teleprinter always used to do when some team bagged a big score.

Alba Challenge Cup, Round 1. The Rock, 25/7/10. (aet 0-0: 3-4 pens)

Well, this wasn’t long in coming round. I’m not sure I’m ready for the new season yet.

I don’t suppose the result was a surprise. These two teams have a history of serving up low scoring or goalless games in cups.

I don’t have a clue what this presages for the league.

Queen Of The South.

Away.

Another first round exit.

Morton.

Again!

(First round exit.

Again.)

I wonder what the CIS Cup draw will throw up for us tomorrow.

St Mirren or Dunfermline perchance?

So Cowdenbeath are in Division 1 and Arbroath have been relegated to Division 3.

I wouldn’t have favoured a Brechin-Cowden play-off final as Airdrie Utd had been having a good go at surviving in Div 1. Alloa perhaps suffered from losing their top place in the division so late (much as Cowden did last year.)

The Forfar-Arbroath match-up was predictable for their final and I wouldn’t have liked to choose between them.

Cowden get promoted again after not achieving it by their own efforts last time. It’s a funny old game. Maybe their experience in losing last year’s final helped.

Interesting times in Div 2 next season. Four new teams. Since the introduction of play-offs that hasn’t usually happened without demotions of teams having financial problems.

We will struggle.

So. My premonitions about players leaving (or being pushed) has been fulfilled.

Big Mick has gone (why make a guy captain and then punt him at season’s end?)

Ross Clark has gone (one season after being player of the year.)

Stevie Murray has gone (okay he was a bit of a tanner ba’ merchant but I liked him.)

Denzil has gone (though that was inevitable when he was loaned out mid-season.)

Dr Jan has gone (no need now to complain about the BBC spelling his name wrongly every time he played.)

Roddy Hunter has gone (never got a sniff after Winters and Wyness arrived.)

Ross O’Donoghue has gone (he was too similar in style to Scott Chaplain and Ross Clark – and we all know who the manager preferred from that trio.)

David McEwan has gone (was he ever fit this season?)

I think only Alan Cook is actually signed but 13 players have been offered contracts.

If you were Ryan McStay and had been ignored most of the season (or kept on the bench like Del Boy) would you hang around?