Written by John - OTR Saturday, 09 May 1998 00:00

For the third consecutive home game there were no programmes to be had. It doesn't inspire faith in the building of a new stadium when the club can't even get programmes printed.

After 20 minutes Dumbarton took the lead. A superb flowing move involving Wilson, Melvin and McKinnon saw the ball played through to Mooney in the box and he slotted it under the keeper. A lovely goal and fully deserved as Dumbarton were the far superior team.

There was no further scoring until the second half when Cowdenbeath equalized when a low shot bobbled on the hard ground and bounced over Kenny Meechan's outstretched hand. But Dumbarton responded immediately. Basically, we went straight up the park from the kickoff and McKinnon stuck the ball in the back of the net. So Dumbarton were back on top. And just like the previous week against Montrose, it all went horribly wrong. Gowser was a bit late with a tackle in the box. The Cowden player did seem to make a meal of it and the ref blew for a penalty and sent Stevie off to a standing ovation from the Sons fans. Welsh sent Kenny Meechan the wrong way to make it 2-2.

Even down to 10 men Dumbarton looked the better team, but just weren't creating enough chances. Cowden's final goal had an air of farce about it. Somehow the ball was sent to the edge of the box. Kenny Meechan, not for the first time this season, came rushing out for a ball thay he had no hope of getting to and collided with the incoming Cowdenbeath player. The ref booked Meechan and awarded a free kick which Ritchie coolly swerved over the wall past the inept keeper. Wallace was due to meet with Meechan to discuss signing a new deal. With his performances over the last few weeks, I would tell Meechan to sling his hook.

Flannery, who had been put on a few minutes earlier, then missed a glorious chance to score from a delightful outside-of-the-boot cross by Brittain. He's yet to score for Dumbarton and that miss further reinforced the fact that Morton were quite correct in letting him go.

Dumbarton didn't threaten at all for the rest of the match. The only highlight was watching Martin Mooney take the mickey out of a Cowdenbeath player who was lacking in the shoulders and neck department...You had to be there.