Written by John - OTR Tuesday, 26 January 1999 00:00

The evening got off to a pretty sombre start. The pre-match music was 'I'm So Lonely I Could Die' and there was a one minute's silence for a Shire director who died last week.

The sombre continued in the first half. Shire had a goal chopped for offside after about 10 minutes and that was their best chance of the first 45. Dumbarton's only effort on target was a 40 yard daisycutter by Jamie Bruce which lost a lot of momemtum before reaching the Shire keeper. There was the odd bit of nice midfield play but no penetration. Colin McKinnon managed a couple of good runs but seemed to take a long time on the ball and spurned the opportunities. Admittedly, conditions underfoot were difficult. Paddy seemed to spend more time on his backside than on his feet. It was a very poor half indeed.

Second half was more of the same. Flannery headed into keeper's arms, there were a couple of pot shots but again, the Shire keeper wasn't troubled too much.

The first goal when it came in the 79th minute, was a bit lucky. A cross came in from the left, a Shire defender swung his leg at it and managed to slice it into the path of Billy Melvin who struck it low into the back of the net.

There was no luck about the second goal, 4 minutes later. Craig Brittain picked the ball up on the edge of the centre circle in the Shire half and let rip with a 35 yarder that had "GOAL" written all over it. I thought it would be time to relax safe in the knowledge that the three points were in the bag but momemts after the restart, Jamie Bruce made a clumsy challenge in the box, right on the byeline and referee Rowbotham pointed to the spot. The penalty was struck with a fair bit of power high into the net giving Kenny no chance.

And that was the way it stayed. Three points but a poor display.