Written by John - OTR Saturday, 05 December 1998 00:00

The cup draw didn't look good for Dumbarton, having been drawn against Second division leaders, Livingston, and a possible second round tie against the team just behind Livvy, Inverness Caledonian Thistle. But on the evidence of Saturday's game both teams are beatable.

Dumbarton dominated for long periods in the first half against Livvy. Paddy Flannery was looking sharp and brought a couple of saves out of the Livingston keeper. Harvey was spraying balls about well and the new forward, Miller was lively. There was even a reasonable penalty claim. Well it looked reasonable to Sandy, who went on a rant but I don't think the ref was ever going to give it.

Despite not having Lee Sharp, recently transferred to Dundee, the Sons defence coped with the Livvy attack. Wilson blocked a couple of shots. Gow made a timely tackle or two and Craig Brittain contained the attacks made down the left wing. Shortly before the end of half, Livingston were reduced to 10 men, after Sherry was sent off for badmouthing the referee following an alleged case of dangerous play by Stevie Gow on John Robertson. Serves Robbo right for being so small.

The crowd were optimistic at the start of the second half and when Colin McKinnon was brought down by the keeper in the box in the 53rd minute, a cup upset was on the cards. Paddy Flannery stepped up to take the penalty but he hit it poorly and it was easily parried by the Livvy keeper. So for the second season running Paddy Flannery cost Dumbarton a chance to take the lead against a bigger team in the Scottish Cup. Thankfully, Paddy atoned for his miss when he slotted away the equalizer from a Billy Melvin drive in the 83rd minute.

The worrying thing was that between the penalty miss and the equalizer, Dumbarton were terrible. Livingston's goal was another example of horrendous marking at a corner kick. The ball was whipped into the near post, flicked towards the back post where it found the unmarked head of Miller who couldn't miss. It could've been more had Derek Barnes not made a couple of good saves.

If Dumbarton can play the same way as they played in the first half, they can win the replay. If we play the same as the second, it could be a hammering on Tuesday.