Written by John - OTR Saturday, 14 November 1998 00:00

Just as they promised earlier in the week, Lorna and Greig turned up for this important clash with Brechin City. Their last appearance at Boghead resulted in the Sons getting a 4-0 thrashing by Alloa so there was a bit of discussion about jinxes especially seeing that Lorna hasn't seen Dumbarton win at Boghead for two seasons.

Dumbarton were by far the better team in the first half and had the majority of possession. But there weren't that many clear cut scoring opportunities. That may have been due in part to some appalling decisions by the officials. The referee seemed that think that pushing a player from behind was within the laws of the game. Colin McKinnon came close a couple of times, his best effort being a ferocious shot that flew just inches wide following a great dummy by Martin Mooney.

In the 37th minute, Dumbarton took the lead when Flannery scored with a header inside the six yard from a Wilson cross and I had the feeling that the game was going to be ours as Brechin didn't show any indication that they were any good at all. However, this all changed in the dying seconds of the first half. Dumbarton lost possession when a pass went astray. City player Dickson took the ball up and chipped Kenny Meechan to equalize. Kenny made a valiant attempt to get to the ball as it floated over him but succeeded only in colliding with the post (for the second time in the game) and ended up with concussion.

When Colin McKinnon ran out at the start of the second half wearing the goalkeeper's yellow jersey, you just knew it wasn't going to go right for us. And so it proved. Ten minutes after the restart, Brechin took the lead with a low deflected shot that went in off Colin's right hand post.

Dumbarton tried to get back into the game but the Brechin keeper was only called into action once or twice. Lee Sharp came close with a couple of headers from corners and Paddy Flannery had a shot saved. But that was all the team could manage and Brechin held on to take the three points, despite having their substitute Kerrigan sent off for kicking out at Lee Sharp right in front of the referee.

Comedy Highlight Number 1
Joe "Mad Dog" Mitchell's superb expletive-peppered tirade against the referee and linesman after another incomprehesible decision.

Comedy Highlight Number 2
Joe "Mad Dog" Mitchell shouting "Steps" at the top of his voice during the half time kiddies game when one of the keepers took more than his regulation four.

Comedy Highlight Number 3
Listening to our well-pished left back, Barry Wilkinson, informing us that his nickname is "Big Dingo" on account of the size of his manhood. Obviously, this was in the Elephant after the game, not before. We like Barry....mainly because that's the second time we've seen him in the pub after the match. But he does seem to like Bacardi Breezers which is very un-Australian. Apparently, he's going to get Paddy to come down to the pub next week, which means that we can torment him by asking "Paddy, how did you manage to miss that sitter against ........... ? " (Insert the team of your choice on the dotted line).

The Old Man With The Poly Bags was fairly subdued at the game, only getting in a couple of shouts of "Wakey Wakey" and the slightly surreal "I've seen more effort from the Womens' Guild".