Written by John - OTR Tuesday, 27 January 1998 00:00

We went. We saw. We went back home content after seeing Dumbarton perform valiantly against "Premier League" opposition.

It wasn't a particularily comfortable trip to Fir Park, what with 5 of us crammed into Lorna's Fiat Panda (the car is called Belinda, by the way). But we got there for 7:30, parked Belinda and walked to Fir Park. We knew that the "big end" was for the away fans and headed for it. Unfortunately, we didn't realise that you couldn't get to it from the Main Stand side of the ground and so we marched right round to the sound of the singing Sons fans.

After jumping up the stairs we conveniently found a row of 5 seats immediately behind the rest of our squad and settled down to the game. It looked as if there were about 150-200 Sons fans there but it's hard to estimate when you're in the thick of them. To the Well fans it probably looked tiny.

Dumbarton started positively and had the first serious chance of the match when Jim Meechan forced Woods to tip over a long drive. Then Flannery had a shot cleared off the line following a Motherwell defensive error. As in the first game Motherwell enjoyed most of the possession but their finishing was diabolical. Balls were blasted high and wide much to our amusement. And Motherwell want to be in a Superleague ! Ha. They're crap. Very crap.

So, at half time it was 0-0 and Dumbarton had played much better than the previous encounter. Things were looking good. We all believed we could take this game. And the home support were getting annoyed. Magic !

In the second half, Dumbarton raised their game again and began using much more of the park to good effect. Another Motherwell defensive mix-up lead to Woods having to dive bravely at the feet of the incoming McKinnon and Flannery. Well's Newman made an arse of header and it looped high over his own crossbar. But it wasn't all Dumbarton. Kenny Meechan had to make some staightforward saves and Motherwell were gradually getting closer with their long shots. Mooney got himself booked after hauling down that wanker Coyle after a probing Motherwell through ball. A lot of us in the away end feared he could been off. But the referee was in a lenient mood. Which was lucky for Motherwell's McCulloch who only received a booking after an off-the-ball clash with Flannery.

Motherwell's pressure finally paid off when that wanker Coyle put the ball in from 2 yards from a flick on. He looked offside from where we were. Unfortunately Coyle was only slightly hurt in the collision with Kenny Meechan.

In the last ten minutes, the Sons had two glorious chances to equalise. Hugh Ward hit the outside of the post with a shot that had Woods rooted to the spot. And the final minute Woods did well to push over a looping Colin McKinnon header. We came that close. That close. It was a bit disappointing when the final whistle went. But the players had given it their all and were by no means outclassed by the full time, over paid, and frankly crap, opposition.

And we did manage to get a cracking chorus of "You're Shite And You Know You Are" in. Certainly lifted my spirits.

And so ends Dumbarton's Cup exploits for another season. It was good while it lasted.

I do hope Motherwell get humped by Rangers in the next round.