SPFL Tier 3, The Rock, 16/11/24.

A much needed win after a nothing first half in which the only things of note were a great Brett Long sideways leap to prevent QoS’s first away league goal this season, a QoS defender’s attempt to score into his own empty net with a header which their goalie just scrambled off the line and a Michael Ruth effort that just squeezed past. It seemed his (bad) luck in front of goal still continued.

The second half was much better with Sons doing most of the attacking. Jinky Hilton hit the bar and the keeper was lucky it fell into his arms when it came down again after rebounding off the ground. Then Michael Ruth was shoved in the back in the area but it wasn’t given – despite the ref flinging yellow cards about like they were confetti.

Ruthie got his reward about 70 minutes in. That rarity, an early Kalvin Orsi cross, found Finlay Gray whose strike was blocked but fell for Ruthie to bury it. I’m pleased for him. His overall wrok-rate is simply brilliant but I think his rcent lackd of goals had been getting to him.

Then they were awarded a free kick a few yards outside our penalty area. As he lined it up I thought Brett Long  had got his positioning all wrong. So it proved. The up and over duly found the opposite bottom area of the goal. QoS’s first away goal of the league season and to watch them you could understand that stat.

The lads’ heads could have gone down after that but they kept plugging away and we git a series of unfruitful corners as time -up loomed. From the aftermath of one of them Mark Durnan got his foot in the way of the defender’s and the ball and was kicked. So: penalty. From where I sat I hadn’t realised it was in the are until the ref pointed at the spot.

Sub Tony Wallace duly dispatched it, to much rejoicing in the stands.

I hope the win does the boys ‘ confidence some good; our next two games are tough. Both against Alloa, at their place next Saturday in the league then at ours the following Friday in the Cup.

SPFL Tier 3, Palmerston Park, 28/9/24.

Reality biting hard?

That’s two games lost in a row now. AndMark Durnan got himself sent off.

Plus we’re bottom of the table.

It’s getting hard to see where the win is going to come from.

I’m not convinced it’ll be next week at home to Stenhousemuir. They owned us last season.

It seems I won’t be going to East Kilbride after all. Sons’ League Cup game against them will be at home on Sat Jul 13th.

Then on the following Tuesday we’re away to Queen of the South before taking on Airdrieonians at home on Sat Jul 20th and finally Aberdeen away on sat Jul 27th.

Scottish League Cup* Group E, The Rock, 20/7/19

Well.

This isn’t looking good, is it?

I know they’re a division above us but still. Annan drew with them in midweek after all – and Annan aren’t very good.

I hate to think how many Motherwell will put past us on Tuesday night.

*Betfred Cup.

The dates for the four* games Sons will play in next season’s League Cup have been announced.

July 13^th Annan Athletic away,
July 17^th Morton away,
July 20^th Queen of the South at home,
July 23^rd Motherwell at home.

It’s an odd sequence; with two away games followed by two home ones.

*We won’t be going beyond four.

Gosh. These things come round quickly.

Sons have been drawn against Motherwell, Morton, Queen of the South and Annan Athletic.

The games are to be played between July 13^th and 27^th. No other details as yet.

SPFL Tier 2, The Rock, 10/3/18.

Well, this is becoming depressing.

Another home game, another 1-0 defeat. No leage goal since Boxing Day (and none in the two games before that.)

And it seems we missed a penalty.

If we didn’t have a Cup final to look forward to things would be bleak indeed.

And it seems Froxy is unavailable for that due to a Cyprus call-up. Gloom all round.

SPFL Tier 2, Palmerston Park, 2/1/18.

Not a disaster, but a win would have been nice.

At least we’re now two wins ahead of Falkirk again after them clawing three points back on us on Saturday.

SPFL Tier 2, St Mirren Park, 2/12/17.

What a welcome – and unexpected – three points.

Mind you we’ve apparently played quite well the past few weeks – certainly did at Dunfermline – and with St Mirren having gone down to ten men just before half-time I would have been disappointed not to take anything from the game. But I’d have snatched your hand off for three points before it started.

I was reduced to listening to the radio in the car for snippets and was increasingly worried we wouldn’t score in the second half but Tom Walsh came up trumps and – marvel of marvels – we held out for the win. (If only we’d done that in the past two games we’d only be below Queen of the South* on goal difference.)

Too early to get carried away though but surely we needn’t fear anybody in this league.

Down to earth with a bump next week?

*Edited to add: And Dunfermline, and only a point below Morton! I was only looking at 6^th place when I originally posted.

SPFL Tier 2, The Rock, 28/11/17.

I suppose a point against a team above us is not to be sniffed at but that’s two games in a row now we’ve failed to see the game out from a winning position. Then again we’re part-time and they’re full-time and we ussually don’t do as well in midweek fixtures.

It was good to see Greg Morrison get his name on the score sheet. He’s looked a bit lacking in confidence recently. A goal should help with that.

Pity Inverness C T thumped Brechin though. A draw there wouldn’t have been a calamity.

Since they’re top of the league I’m not expecting anything from Saturday’s game at St Mirren.