Written by Administrator Saturday, 02 May 1998 00:00

This was my first visit to Links Park after several failed attempts, the worst of which saw me stand in a damp mini-bus from Balloch to within 5 miles of Montrose before we found out that the game had been postponed.

However nothing was going to stop Gary, Graeme and myself getting to the last away game of the season. Mind you, Gary forgetting where the ground was meant that we missed the first couple of minutes.

Craig Brittain made a welcome return to the team and his pace was utilized at every opportunity down the left. After nine minutes it all went horribly wrong. A Montrose cross was deflected in the penalty box. A Montrose forward outjumped Gow and his header looped over Kenny Meechan to make it 1-0. Hardly a prolific start.

Dumbarton were the better team at this point, the ball was played nicely about the midfield and they were making good use of the pitch but nothing seemed to come from this superiority , usually because Grace made an arse of a pass.

Montrose's second goal was a simple passing movement in the box which was very poorly defended all round. Two attacks, two goals.

Strange circumstances surrounded Dumbarton's goal. Sons were awarded a free kick in the 64th minute just outside the box, for no apparent reason. Martin Mooney stepped up and hit an unstoppable low drive around the wall. And before the play restarted a Montrose player, James Watt, was then sent off for what could only have dissent or foul and abusive language.

Shortly after Montrose missed an unbelievable open goal opportunity which had us in stitches at the ineptitude of the home team's attack.

Jamie Bruce came on for Billy Melvin for the last 15 minutes, which allowed Stevie Gow, of all people, to take up a more attacking role which to be fair he did quite well considering his limited skill.

Glancy was substituted for McCuaig after 85 minutes and he didn't seem too happy, running straight up the tunnel with Wallace in hot pursuit. I probably wouldn't have been happy either as Grace was allowed to complete the match even though he was by far the worst Dumbarton player on show.

Dumbarton pressed more men forward in the last five minutes and a couple of chances were created, the best being a header which brought out a superb save by the Montrose keeper. But this pressing forward left us exposed at the back. Montrose exploited this and sent a long ball forward which a Montrose attacker ran on to. Jamie Bruce ran back to cover and had no option but to bring the player down at the edge of the box. Unsurprisingly Bruce was shown the red card and the free kick was skied over the bar.

The final whistle went and there were a few shouts from a handful of Sons fans as the team walked off. So that's that. We are now officially the worst team in Scotland. So off we went to drown our sorrows in alcohol, some of it very strong (Polish Pure Spirit, 79.9% alcohol by volume and 2 quid 50 a measure !)

In the Golf Inn, the general opinion was the Dumbarton were the better team. But one old gent reckoned that Colin McKinnon was one of our better players so perhaps their opinions should be taken with a large pinch of salt.