SPFL Trust Trophy,* Third Round , The Rock, 09/08/23

I went to this since it was the first ever meeting between the two sides. It was also an opportunity for me to buy the new home top as seen in the photo below – white top with black and gold stripes down left side of chest.

As to the game; it’s something of a wake-up call. We dominated early possession and made their keeper make a few saves. Then they scored in their first meaningful attack with our defence failing to deal with both the first and the second balls from a corner. Their second was a farce, a defensive error presenting Botti Biabi with a one-on-one he wsn’t going to miss. Declan Byrne did just that though about halfway through the half when beautifully played in, putting his shot just wide of the post.  In all we had no less than four gilt-edged chances in the first half which we spurned, plus another one in the second. Their keeper was certainly player of the first half. Michael Ruth did manage to pull one back after he twisted and turned his defender and sent his shot past the keeper.

Despite Kethen that they would scorelty having a sharpness about their approach play it looked more likely we would equalise but their third was another defensive disaster. We’d been trying to play it out from the back passing across the penalty area and such all second half (manager Steve Farrell must be encouraging this) but a short pass put Harry Broun in goal into bother and his attempted clearance had no chance of escaping Biabi’s challenge for the ball. It rebounded into the net.

I’ve no worries at all that we can create chances. It’s the taking of them that may be a problem. If I was a Kelty fan I would be worried at being so defensively open even though their keeper is certainly up to the job.

It was my first sight of a few of our new faces. Michael Ruth looks a player: whether he is one time will tell.

*aka the Challenge Cup.

SPFL Tier 4, New Dundas Park, 15/4/23.

A win?

And a clean sheet?

We’ve not seen either of those for six weeks.

I’m glad we’ve stopped the rot. I was beginning to wonder where a point was going to come from.

And results elsewhere mean we’ve clinched a promotion play-off spot. (I’d have taken that before a ball was kicked but after being top of the pile for so long it’s a touch disappointing we didn’t manage to push that over the line. And the other teams in the play-offs will be in a better psychological place for not having that disappointment.)

We have Declan Byrne and Russell McLean to thank for today’s goals. I must confess that second scorer is a surprise as when I saw him – at East Fife and Stirling – he looked like he couldn’t hit the proverbial barn door. Still, we’ll take small comforts.

Next up is Stirling Albion at home on Tuesday where they’ll be hoping to clinch the league title (that’s if the game goes on; it’s been postponed four times already.) Then it’s East Fife at home on Saturday and they’ll be on a high after putting eight past Stranraer today.

SPFL tier 4, New Bayview, 18/2/23.

Sometimes it just isn’t your day.

I had the feeling that might be the case when early on Ally Love was put through in a position to lob the keeper. He put it wide.

A few minutes later we had a shot blocked from what looked a promising opening.

Then we lost Gregg Wylde to injury a few seconds after it seemed Finlay Gray was fouled in their box. Had the ref given it the injury wouldn’t have happened.

Their first came from a corner that never was. The ball clearly went out from an East Fife player’s head. (It should still hve been defended though.)

Not long after Martin McNiff also had to go off.

Two substitutions in the first half and a goal down. However we were the team putting more pressure on but couldn’t work a clear opening.

With Stirling Albion two goals down at half time it was possible we might get away with it.

Second half was much the same. Declan Byrne and Russell MacLean came on but didn’t really change the dynamic. MacLean though did look to have a chance to score late on but didn’t make good contact with the ball and bundled it towards the keeper.

Their second was as a result of us chasing the point. We had too many players upfield and the break exposed us.

To make things worse Stirling managed to get two in the second half despite being down to ten men. Our advantage has dropped to only three points – which may be zero if Stirling win their game in hand.

SPFL Tier 3, Bayview Stadium, 3/9/22.

Well. I’m not a jinx. And the club record number of wins at the start of a season was broken again. We’re eight points clear. I keep thinking sometime I will wake up.

This was my first time seeing this Sons side and it was a strange experience. The difference between last season and this is night and day. Indeed I do not recall ever seeing a Dumbarton team have so much ‘dig’ in it. Every ball was contested, the press was coordinated, the determination impressive.

Not that it was a very good game. It didn’t contain much flowing football. But a win is a win.

My impression was that East Fife had more of the ball in the first half but the half-time possession statistics (according to the BBC website) suggested the opposite. Our goal came form a quick turnover in midfield when Ryan Blair sent Declan Byrne through with an arrowed pass and he ran on to dispatch it past the keeper into the far corner. A minute later Declan nearly repeated the feat but this time his shot from a slightly narrower angle hit the post and bounced out. Byrne was a terrier up front, putting himself about but also able to hold the ball up distribute it.

We had a few half-chances in the second half but mostly put the ball over the bar. There was one lovely corner routine which ought perhaps to have led to a goal but the final shot was scuffed and subsequently hacked away.

There very few moments of concern in our box. Brett Long in goal didn’t have to make a save. One East Fife effort did hit the bar but Brett may have had the scoring trajectory covered.

There was also a good amount of game management going on in the second half. Nice to see.

Next up is Stranraer away. They are our bogey team. A good test then.

SPFL Tier 4, The Rock, 13/8/22.

I didn’t see this coming. Annan did well last season. And this is the first time since 1959 we’ve won our first three league games. (Mind you, we finished sixth that season.)

A brace from Declan Byrne, one from Finlay Gray and the icing on the cake provided by Gregor Buchanan – with an assist from a trialist – John Gemmell of misty memory if Pie and Bovril is to be believed.

I’m not letting myself get carried away by this.

After all we beat East Fife 5-0 at home last September and look how the season ended.

But it is an encourgaging start.

SPFL Tier 4, The Rock, 30/7/22.

A league win!

It’s something we didn’t achieve very often last season.

Still, not wise to get ahead of ourselves. We won last season’s league opener 3-0. Away.

It was a whirlwind start with new signing Declan Byrne scoring twice within the first five minutes.

Since I wasn’t there and there’s no streaming this season I can’t really comment further.