A Son of the Rock

SFL Div 2, Glebe Park, 20/8/11

Amazing the difference a goal makes. I had been going to start this match report with the phrase football can be a cruel sport at times. Yet it can also be the total opposite. One kick of the ball and despair turns to delight.

At half time you could only see one team winning this. Fifteen minutes later only the other. In the end neither did. A switch-back of the emotions.

Witnessing the first half I was at a loss to see how we could have lost 5-1 at home last week. We totally dominated a team who were/are many people’s favourites for promotion. 2-0 was a fair reflection of the game. Scott Agnew neatly finished for the first from a Pat Walker flick on, Jamie Lyden headed the second after running through a static defence. Brechin barely threatened Jamie Ewings only really had one save to make but covered the goal well.

Two minutes into the second half it was pinball in our penalty area. That only ever has one result. The goal gave Brechin confidence. Then the iron law that ex-players come back to haunt us kicked in. Derek Carcary ran through with Alan Lithgow struggling to keep up. The original offence was way outside the box but Carcary finally fell inside it. So: penalty and red card. That ridiculous rule. How, exactly, was the goal scoring opportunity denied? McManus scored it after all. A substitution took off Prunty to allow Nugent as replacement centre half. In the subsequent settling in period an overstretched Dumbarton leg played the ball straight to a Brechin player who went on to score.

From then on Brechin seemed to think they’d won it. If they’d gone for a fourth they probably would have.

As it was, Dumbarton showed character, continued to try to play football, passing to feet and trying to play through Brechin, without ever making Nelson in the Brechin goal work. Until the last gasp equaliser, a beautifully flighted free kick by Scott Agnew.

Brechin’s Paul McManus appears to have the nickname “Shagger.” How very un-PC.

Jamie Ewings was impressive in goal – and not at fault for any of Brechin’s strikes. He dealt with pass backs confidently, made himself big when required, generally exuded competence and never once gave me kittens.

Dumbarton did not deserve to lose this game and throughout played some good stuff. There was more than enough here to suggest that early season gloom might be misplaced. We’l need to keep things tight just after half time, though. And keep eleven men on the pitch.