Broadwood Stadium, 1/4/10.

We got exactly what we deserved from this. A doing.

In the absence of Chris Smith I warmed to him considerably.

Despite giving myself plenty of time I missed the first goal because the roadworks on the A 80 didn’t allow me to turn off at the A 73 as I had intended and I had to carry on, then double back though Condorrat.

I know nothing was riding on this but it verged on an embarassment. Defensively we were a shambles, it was beyond comic cuts at times. Vojáček in goal could have dealt better with the situations at Clyde’s 2^nd and 3^rd. All game he flapped at everything that came near him. Chappie implicitly admitted he’d got the team selection wrong by subbing two players about twenty minutes into the half. Unusually for him, though, it was the first half.

Ryan McStay oozed class – especially one drag-back in the second half. For about three seconds before he struck it for our first it was obvious from his body language what he intended. It still hit the bottom corner.

Their fourth was a great strike but the player who passed it to him handled in the build-up.

No complaints, though. We were well beaten.

To progress next season we need to improve our home form and do better against the teams at the bottom. Okay, we outdid Stenhousemuir but parity with Clyde, 3 points out of twelve against Arbroath, equal points but a worse goal difference v East Fife says it all.

I thought of Gordon Lennon during the match. Most games this season there hasn’t been time for that among the hurly-burly. Goodness knows what he would have made of this display.

The players stayed on the pitch at the end for some mutual applause with the fans. Recognition of the season’s efforts, not the day’s. I came away wondering how many of them I would see in a Dumbarton shirt again.

It’s going to be a long summer till July. What will I write about?

(I know there’s the World Cup but that’s not the same.)

The Rock, 24/4/10

This sums up our season. One week we beat the league leaders at their place (and in the process probably stop them being champions) and the next, at home, lose to a team who may well be in the relegation play-offs.

Twas ever thus, though.

I didn’t expect anything from this game; partly because we had more or less nothing to play for and partly since our home form this season has been execrable.

Home W5 D4 L9. Away W9 D2 L6.

I’ve seen all but two of those away wins, plus one draw and five losses out of the six. Maybe not quite such a jinx this season, then.

Do as well at home and add in those extra four wins; we’d have been well in the play off hunt.

Still sixth, or fifth if it happens, is a good position finish first season up.

Word of warning. We only need to look at where East Fife and Arbroath are now to see how difficult the second season might be.

But, in the absence of Ben Gordon, was Chissie fielded at centre back? The BBC report’s line up suggests as much. If so, that’s beyond bizarre and Chappie was taking the piss. I know Chissie always puts a shift in but he was vulnerable enough at full back. I’d dearly love to have been able to vote for him for player of the year just because of his effort but I couldn’t be there.

Broadwood next week for a valedictory look at the class of 2010.

Recreation Park, 17/4/10

Well, the worst we can finish now is sixth.

We were worth our lead in the first half as we just shaded it – even if we didn’t force their keeper into a save, goal notwithstanding.

As soon as they went down to ten men I had a sinking feeling. Given that advantage we ought to have killed it before half time but didn’t capitalise. The worst duly unfolded in the second when we let them back in the game.

It was a ridiculous challenge to give away the penalty. If you’re going to foul someone, don’t make it so blatant and ideally make it much nearer the halfway line.

Wyness’s goal was taken beautifully, well placed and calmly hit through the defender’s legs.

Chissie showed his value as a utility player. He was the source of most of our best moments in the first half and had a great volley shave their bar in the second while playing wide left and then was still effective when moved to right back. Toss up between him and Michael White for MOM.

Ben Gordon is far too lackadaisical. He and Chris Smith both are accidents waiting to happen.

When I saw Alloa during this season’s first game I might have thought they’d be in and around promotion. I didn’t think we’d win the other three against them though. It’s a funny old game.

The Rock, 13/4/10

Mission accomplished – with three games to spare. Survival is all I ever wanted for this season.

Well done the lads, and Chappie.

I don’t like that we threw away a two goal lead, however.

Next season will be tougher, I expect, what with Livingston coming up and whoever comes down from Division 1 likely to be strong.

There’s a nucleus to build on, though, if we get in a right back and Chappie stops fielding players out of position.

Forthbank Stadium, 12/4/10

So: this result means Arbroath cannot better our points total. We have a ten goal advantage over them but if they were to beat us by say two on the 24^th it would make things tight. But Stenny and East Fife also play each other that day making it highly unlikely all three can get past us.

Still, we can make it arithmetically secure tonight by our own efforts against Clyde.

Why do I have a sinking feeling?

The Rock, 10/4/10

This was a successful season right here.

If we’d won today East Fife could not have overtaken us and we’d be absolutely safe from relegation.

As it is, the fact that Arbroath and Stenny both lost means only an almighty series of cataclysmic results for us would lead to the relegation play-offs but I’d have preferred we did it under our own steam.

We could on Tuesday night, of course.

But this is Dumbarton we’re talking about.

And it’s a home game. Our home form is crap.

Against the bottom club.

I’m not optimistic. (But I’d take three points.)

Glebe Park, 4/4/10

Scrappy game; scrappy goal; three points.

We took one of our chances, they didn’t take any of their’s.

Man of the match, though, for me, was Michael White in goal. He dealt well with everything that was thrown at him.

Perhaps I should always predict we won’t get any points in the next two games.

And Chappie fielded the same starting eleven for the first time in ….. how long?

Arbroath can only get 49 points in total, East Fife 48. We’re on 44 and those two play each other on the last Saturday.

Forthbank Stadium, 4/4/10

Get out of jail free card played. Yet one more illustration that my crystal ball is defective.

Yes, we made their keeper make two good saves in the first half; once from a close-in Wyness header and once when Kieran Brannan was through but I couldn’t see this coming when we went one down.

We rode our luck more than once when defending corners. We have eleven men back and they still manage to get efforts in; plus we don’t then have an out ball. Just after they scored Ross Clark saved on the post at a corner.

Ross Clark at right back? Not the disaster it could have been but he’s more effective in midfield, surely? He was as exposed as Chissie there btw.

A route one ball gave us the equaliser. Dennis Wyness’s “powerful shot into the bottom corner” was a lob over the keeper into the middle of the goal and was so slow in coming down I thought he’d missed the goal completely.

The second was an exploitation of Carcary’s pace; he then squared the ball to an unmarked Wyness who looked to scuff it a bit, but who’s complaining?

Kieran Brannan started but seemed to lack enough pace to get past a man and a bit of confidence. He probably needs more development time. White was solid between the posts and had no chance with their goal.

The midfield was totally lacking in imagination and ideas. How we scored twice is a mystery to me but three points gratefully accepted

Two more points and Clyde can’t overtake us.

The Rock, 27/3/10

Well; at least I didn’t have to change the goals against predictor.

And we have a welcome midweek break.

Perhaps the lads can watch Barcelona and see how it’s done….

Two tricky away matches coming up, though, from which I expect to gain no points (even if our record at Brechin is good on the whole.)

The Rock, 23/3/10

So. Two games against Stenny in ten days, two goals apiece and an equal share of six points. Better off than with two draws then.

Yet more midfield manoeuvrings, I see.

Now eleven points clear of ninth place albeit Arbroath are playing tonight. Dare I dream of safety?