Dumbarton 2-1 Stranraer
Posted in Dumbarton FC at 21:59 on 7 October 2017
Scottish Challenge Cup*, Third Round, The Rock, 6/10/17.
An odd night statistically. I’m sure that’s the first time we’ve won three Challenge Cup ties in one season and it marks four home games in a row we’ve won 2-1 – and the away game in that sequence was lost by the same score. And we don’t usually beat Stranraer.
I must say Stranraer turned out for this in an ugly black strip with horrible luminous yellow flashings and socks.
We should have had this dead and buried after ten minutes. At least four great chances in that time. Mark Stewart charged down a defender’s forward pass and set up Calum Gallagher who didn’t shoot first time but instead dollied round another defender and his subsequent shot was saved by the keeper’s legs. Then a Chris McLaughlin cross gave Calum Gallagher a free header and he didn’t get anything like enough on it. The goal came after a fine driving run into the box from David Wilson to set up Craig Barr who still had a lot to do but did it superbly. A minute or so later Dimitris Froxylias hit a chance over the bar. Pretty much it for the half except for Scott Gallacher going off to be replaced by Jamie Ewings and us letting Stranraer have too much possession.
Second half followed the pattern of the latter part of the first but we always looked comfortable. Scott Agnew (formerly of this parish) pinged over a few great cross-fields balls with that left foot of his but was otherwise uninfluential.
The game was all but over when Tom Walsh skinned the full back yet again and put over a beautiful cross. Mark Stewart showed Calum Gallagher how it’s done.
Froxy did track back more than I’ve seen him but when on the ball occasionally tried too much. He was perhaps a bit too cute with a late shot which was deflected then cleared off the line.
They had a couple of moments from corners where the ball flashed across the box but were nowhere near clinical and only two shots, both long range, on target in all of normal time both of which Jamie Ewings dealt with easily. Three minutes stoppage time was announced and I thought we might actually get a clean sheet. But another poorly given away and defended corner led to them scoring with the second last touch of the game.
It’s the first time I’ve seen us win this season, since late January at Raith in fact.
I’m glad we’re not in the third tier. I thought Stranraer were brutal (football fan speak for not very entertaining.)
*Irn Bru Cup if you must.
Tags: Calum Gallagher, Chris McLaughlin, Craig Barr, David Wilson, Dimitris Froxylias, Irn Bru Cup, Jamie Ewings, Mark Stewart, Raith Rovers, Scott Agnew, Scott Gallacher, Stranraer, Tom Walsh