Sons’ opponents in this year’s League Cup, now called the Premier Sports Cup, will be Aberdeen, Airdrieonians, Queen of the South and East Kilbride.

We have played Aberdeen a few times recently in the Scottish Cup, Airdrie most recently when in SPFL Tier 3 but they are now a level higher, and we will be renewing acquaintance with Queen of the South in next season’s Tier 3. Unless it was in a friendly I can’t remember, Sons have never faced East Kilbride before. They won this season’s Lowland League but lost out to Stranraer in the play-off for SPFL membership. Depending on how the ties turn out this might be a new ground for me to see Sons play at.

SPFL Tier 4, The Rock, 06/05/23.

So, the final league game of the season.

Like last week at Elgin it was a turgid affair. Both sides had nothing to play for and our players looked like they were not exerting themselves too much; saving themselves for the play-offs.

That concern was reflected in the line-up, with an unusual look to the back line, Aron Lynas alongside Peter Grant at centre half, Harry Broun again in goal and Luca Vata given his first start in midfield. He stayed on for the whole game, didn’t disgrace himself but probably needs to bulk up a bit before becoming anything like a regular.

Neither side created much early on but Finlay Grey had two strong drives which the keeper had to beat away.

Their goal was a joke. Aron Lynas just got his head to a cross but miscued it against the post and the rebound bounced in off Peter Grant.

A few minutes later Edin Lynch got up at the back post from a corner and powered it home for the equaliser.

In the second half Ally Love had two decent attempts at goal, an attempted flick over the keeper just caught his fingertips but the ball was going in until a defender swept it off the line. Then Love’s header from a great Martin McNiff cross beat the keeper but was headed over the bar by a defender. (Love’s header may have been missing the goal though.)

It’s on to the serious end of season stuff now. Away to Annan on Tuesday night, before the return at the Rock on Saturday.

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, Stair Park, 4/3/23

Sons fans do not travel to Stair Park with expectation. Not expectation of a good result anyway.

So, this was a delightful suprise. Then again we needed it as Stirling Albion won again.

Ross MacLean did the business for us first half and Gregor Buchanan put a gloss on it in the second.

On now to the big one against Stirling at home on Tuesday (weather permittting.)

It’s not a must win but it’s verging on a can’t afford to lose.

I’d take the draw now.

SPFL Tier 4, The Rock, 28/2/23.

I must confess that after the last two results I hadn’t expected this.

But it was a much needed win – and achieved with a few players out. Thank you Finlay Gray for the goal.

That’s us five points ahead of Stirling Albion now.

Off to Stranraer now on Saturday where, doubtless, our poor record means the points difference will be back to two again.

But we can hope.

SPFL Tier 4, The Rock, 25/2/23.

We have gone seriously off the boil. That’s eleven points dropped in our last six games. So, not a good time to lose at home for the first time this season.

As last week we went behind pretty early. At least this time we got an equaliser through Ryan Blair but we gave away a penalty early in the second half.

It seems from Pie and Bovril that we were truly bad today too.

Plus we’ve got a game on Tuesday against Stenhousemuir at home and they’ve come onto a game recently.

Then it’s away to Stranraer next Saturday and our record there is awful.

By the time we play Stirling Albion on Tuesday week we could well be behind them.

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, Stair Park, 20/9/22.

Ah well. That’s the 100% and unbeaten records both gone.

I suppose it had to happen sometime. Whether it would have done if the game had been played as originally sceduled we’ll never know but we had two players who weren’t available tonight due to work commitments and who might otherwise have been on the pitch.

It showed good spirit to come back from two goals down through Martin McNiff and a Joe McKee penalty. Not so much when we let their ten men (our penalty saw one of their players sent off) get back up the park and gain a penalty themselves.

I’d have taken a draw but they haven’t been beaten at home yet and as I have said they are our bogey team.

I would certainly have taken 21 points from eight games at the start of the season before a ball was kicked, so nil desperandum.

There’s an eleven day break now before the last game of the first quarter up at Forfar.

SPFL Tier 4, The Rock, 17/9/22.

Well that’s our first goal – and so first win – against Bonnyrigg.

I don’t know if we ground it out but that’s two 1-0 wins in a row.

Interesting to note it was Carsy who took the penalty. Ally Love took the last two – against Elgin three weeks ago.

And we broke our record of successive wins at the start of a season again – plus equalled the Division’s best ever start.

On Tuesday night we’re at Stranraer for the game postponed from last week. As I said before, they’re our bogey team.

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.