Written by John - OTR Tuesday, 04 August 1998 00:00

Life is full of surprises. I was fully expecting Dumbarton to get humped off the park but instead they took the 3 points in a remarkably easy manner.

There were a number of changes in the team. Dennison, another player now sporting a Craig Burley bleached haircut, was in goal for Keeny Meechan who was injured on Saturday. Stevie Gow was suspended so Lee Sharp and Davie Reid (I think) were the central defenders. Martin Glancy and Paddy Flannery returned after their recent signing showdown with Ian Wallace but more on that later.

The first 20 or so minutes were dull and drab. Then Dumbarton started to find some form. The passing game became sharper and Martin Glancy was tormenting the Rovers defence. In the last 25 minutes of the half Dumbarton forced the Rovers keeper into 6 or so saves before McKinnon headed in from a corner via a deflection of a defender's back. Everyone was happy. Even the subs who were warming up behind the goal were smiling.

Immediately after the break Dumbarton scored again from another corner. The goal was a bit scrappy and I didn't see who scored it. Teletext, in their match report, credited the goal to Flannery but the results page gave it as Trialist. This could be case as Flannery and Glancy were holding out on signing contracts for this season. According to the Record, Wallace gave them an ultimatum, "don't come back unless you want to sign". If this is true then both players have re-signed. Perhaps the paperwork wasn't completed in time and they were officially listed as trialists. Anyway Flannery's got a cheek holding out. Once again, he was absolute mince when he got anywhere near the goal last night. He hit two shots straight at the keeper in the first half and in the second, he was straight through on goal with only the keeper to beat, just like in the Motherwell game last season, and he hit it too close again. In a way it's a shame because I believe he does have the skill. His control is usually good and he can get round players but he just cannot score. We're all still waiting for him to prove that Morton were wrong to let him go.

Dumbarton sat back after they scored the second goal and if anything they relaxed even more after the Albion Rovers right back, Greenock, was sent off for his second bookable offence. Dennison had to be alert on several occasions and he made a superb save towards then end of the game, pushing the ball onto the post after it was deflected. That was the best chance Albion Rovers had and it wasn't good enough.

In the end Dumbarton ran out comfortable winners. Here's hoping that continues.