SFL Div 1, New Douglas Park, 2/4/13

So. Honours even over the two games.

This was a game we could have won though. After some Hamilton pressure (and Paul McGinn going off with a hamstring injury) we scored with our first effort on goal. Their keeper came out for Scott Agnew’s cross, stopped, and Jim Lister’s header looped up, taking an age to drop into the net.

Thereafter Hamilton had most of the first half but we also played some neat stuff and should have extended the lead. Brian Prunty – strangely out of sorts (possibly carrying an injury?) – scuffed one right in front of goal then Scott Agnew put it wide when it looked easier to hit the target. Despite Hamilton’s possession Stephen Grindlay had only to make one save in the first half.

Second half we had two earlyish chances, Prunty’s header saved by the keeper and Mark Gilhaney’s shot beating him but striking a defender. Those missed chances were crucial as Hamilton’s heads might have gone down.

We looked shattered for the the last third, four games in ten days taking their toll. Hamilton dominated. You can’t surrender possession as easily as we did and hope to hold out forever. Stout defending was eventually undone.Shay had two very good saves before the inevitable equaliser which he got a hand to but it diverted only on to the post and in. Their subsequent winner was hotly disputed by the Sons players who claimed it hadn’t crossed the line.

Even then we had a chance to salvage a point. Someone – I don’t know who, the area was crowded – put in a great header and their keeper incredibly clawed it up and over the bar.

The game in hand over Cowdenbeath is now gone. But when was the last time we were as high as 19^th in Scottish football – as we were before the game? (1986-87, as it happens.)

This must also be the first time a manager has lost his job just after his team has beaten us.

This was the first time I’ve seen Sons fans do a conga. (To be fair we don’t get promoted very often.)

This is the scene just after the final whistle.

Seconds later the pitch was invaded by Sons fans.

Mutual rejoicing:-

The ritual press photos were taken after the pitch was cleared:-

The players salute the fans:-

These are a few photos I took at the last away game of the season proper at Forthbank Stadium, Stirling.

It’s traditional for the Sons fans, aka the Apache Army, to dress up for the last journey of the season. You can spot a few in fancy dress here.

This is the fans celebrating clinching third spot and a play-off place.

The players returned the tribute.

Europa League* Final, Arena Națională, Bucharest, 9/5/12.

The difference here was in a striker who could fashion goals for himself from very unpromising situations (Madrid’s Falcao) and one who may have been carrying an injury (Bilbao’s Llorente) though Madrid’s defending contributed to the latter’s ineffectiveness. Bilbao laboured in the first half and, apart from Falcao, so did Madrid.

In the second, Bilbao had to chase the game and swarmed all over the Madrid half but weren’t able to create a clear cut opportunity – except once when Courtois made a great block. Bilbao also seemed unable to get enough width into their play.

Vulnerable to the break, Bilbao fell to the sucker punch from Madrid’s Diego, another goal created from an unpromising situation. It might have been better defended just the same.

Bilbao’s players are mostly young so may come again. Muniain, with his scurrying run and combative attitude, reminded me of ex-Son Andy Geggan (but an Andy Geggan who can play.)

Speaking of the Sons, a narrow 2-1 win over Arbroath last night makes Saturday’s second leg (with our rank record up there) very iffy.

*So-called.

The access is up a small street which also houses the entrance to the now sadly defunct (again) McCowans Highland Toffee factory.

This is the “away” end. Every time I’ve been in there since it got covered over by a canopy the Sons have lost the game.

I go to the main stand now. It’s called the “Norway” Stand for some reason I forget.

The view from the stand is below. There used to be a stand like the one opposite the pavilion stand at Boghead over there but it’s been gone quite a while now. There’s a cricket pitch in the distance believe it or not. The town of Stenhousemuir boasts both a football and a cricket club.

A couple more photos of the ground are on my flickr.

Could it be almost over?

Still three days to go, though; plenty of time for the weather to turn again.

The restart when it comes could go one of two ways.

Either the break has given Alan Adamson the time to instil more confidence in the boys and we’ll hit the ground running or our lack of matches will mean we’ll be absolutely gash and back to square -3.

Former Queen’s Park, Hearts, Scotland and, briefly, Dumbarton goalkeeper Jim Cruickshank has died.

He was probably the best goalkeeper Hearts have ever had and ought to have played more times for Scotland than he did.

I can’t remember at all well the 1977-78 season during which he played for the Sons but I suspect I did see him between the sticks for us. He was past his prime by then I suppose, but had fallen out with Hearts for some reason; a rift which apparently was never healed – which is sad as he is definitely a Hearts (and Scottish) legend.

Jim Cruickshank: 13/04/1941-18/11/2010. So it goes.