SPFL Tier 4, Cliftonhill, 31/12/22.

Another win. Four points clear at New Year. Heady stuff.

It seems we snatched this one though.

I’m not surprised we found it difficult. I thought Rovers were a decent side when I saw them at the Rock in October.

Onwards though.

It’s a big game next week at home against second placed Stirling Albion.

SPFL Tier 4, New Dundas Park, 3/12/22.

Looks like we got away a bit with this one.

Considering we didn’t score.

We went one down right at the end of the first half but equalised through an own goal early in the second.

Mind you, we were without our first choice centre halves and had to shoehorn other players in.

Still, our margin at the top increased by the point we gained since our nearest challengers Stirling Albion lost.

No game next week, so a Saturday free from worry.

SPFL Tier 4, The Rock, 5/11/22.

Well. Another win. Another clean sheet. And, since Stirling Albion only drew, top of the league again.

The goals came at the end of each half – Gregor Buchanan and Michael Garrity on target – but we apparently hit the post twice and goalie Brett Long made a great contribution to the clean sheet. (What a contrast to Sam Ramsbottom.) The second half must have been a bit nervy, though.

Onwards we go to Elgin on Saturday.

SPFL Tier 4, Forthbank Stadium, 8/10/22.

Well.

This is the result that most Sons fans knew in their bones was coming. Things had been going too well.

We’re still top of the league, though.

But for how long?

It’s all eerily reminiscent of last season when the wheels fell off spectacularly with a 5-0 drubbing at Peterhead on the first Saturday in October. But this was worse.

The only consolation is that this time we have a bigger points cushion.

Next Saturday at home against Albion Rovers is now a must win I’d say.

Otherwise I’d not fancy us at all to beat Cumnock in the Cup the Friday after.

SPFL Tier 4, Station Park, 1/10/22.

Well; it wasn’t a defeat.

But it wasn’t a win either.

It seems we weren’t much in it early on but dominated the later stages.

Slightly worryingly it’s the first time we haven’t scored in the league this season.

The lead is now cut to five points.

But 22 points after 9 games is amazing. It’s 6 more than we’ve ever achieved in a ten team league before.

We’re at second-placed Stirling next Saturday and they’re on a good run.

I’d take the draw now.

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.

Scottish League Cup,* Group A, Balmoor Stadium, 16/7/22.

Well.

A win!

And against a team we couldn’t buy a result against last season. Plus it’s a competition in which we have a dreadful recent record.

Mind you, I understand Peterhead are having severe team problems at the moment.

Still, a win’s a win.

Not that it means anything. I doubt we’ll do something similar at home versus Raith on Tuesday.

The big test will be the first league game. But Stirling Albion, whom we play at home on the 30^th, seem to be going well.

*Premier Sports Cup.

Scottish League Cup,* Group A, The Rock, 9/7/22.

Well, this didn’t take long in coming round. Not much of a close season these days.

But it seems we’ve taken up exactly where we left off.

Okay it’s not the league but it’s still a national cup competetition.

The only consolation is we actually scored. But that was from a defensive mistake.

The three other teams we play in this are in divisions above us. It doesn’t look as if our record in this competition is going to improve any.

Three weeks until the real stuff starts. And that will be against Stirling Albion again.

*Premier Sports Cup

The league fixtures for next season (2022-23) have been published.

We start against Stirling Albion at home on Jul 30^th and finish on May 6^th home to Stranraer.

I really don’t know what to think about this. It’s been a long few seasons of not being very competitive and I dread the same again. Not least that, unlike the last time we were in the lowest divison – 14 seasons ago – there is now the prospect of falling out of the SPFL altogether if that trend continues.

We are only three or so weeks away from our first League Cup game, also starting at home against Stirling Albion. It’s not much of a close season these days.

The League Cup group match dates have been announced.

Saturday July 9 – Dumbarton v Stirling Albion

Wednesday July 13 – Aberdeen v Dumbarton

Saturday July 16 – Peterhead v Dumbarton

Tuesday July 19 – Dumbarton v Raith Rovers

So the potentially closest to me (Raith) won’t be – and the two away games are at the two grounds furthest away. I doubt I’ll bother.