Written by John - OTR Saturday, 05 August 2000 00:00

Not the best of starts to the league campaign but by no means a disaster. Accies started brightly and were playing some good possession football. passing it about the back four and looking every inch like the bookies promotion favourites. Dumbarton seemed to learn from this and began playing some nice football of their own, in fact some of the nicest footie I've seen them play recently. The ball was being sprayed about well, with John Dillon, playing at left back, making some good runs and putting in teasing crosses.

Wilson, Smith and Toby King all had chances which came to nothing.

Half Time:- 0-0 but with the Sons having enjoyed the bulk of the possession.

Accies came out strongly in the second half displaying better skill, movement and fitness than Dumbarton. Well they are a full time outfit.

It all started to go wrong though. Sons went 1-0 down from a quick short corner. The ball was crossed in and the unmarked Eadie nodded the ball, unchallenged, down into the net. Hillcoat was not happy at his defence at all.

Dumbarton responded immediately, with Bomber Brown making a surging run through the Accies defence before being tripped by Vaughn on the edge of the box. Inexplicably, the referee only booked the Accies player even though he was cleary the last man. The resultant free kick was meant to be a clever, rehearsed-on-the-training-field affair, but Roberston only managed to kick the ball into the wall.

Sons kept trying to press but in doing so they reverted back to their old ways with the ball being humped up the park bypassing the midfield and very little clear cut chances being made. Wilson sliced a shot wide, and Brown was unlucky not to score a long range goal after picking up the ball from a poor kick by the Accies keeper, ex-Son Ian MacFarlane.

Accies second goal came when a deep ball left the Sons defence standing. Russell made a long run to pick up the ball, take it into the box and drill it low beyond Hillcoat. There was no coming back after that.

So we were beaten by a sharper, fitter, side. Plus points were that we held our own for large spells. Minus points were that our defence still looks a bit suspect and we are still failing to create enough clear cut chances.

Comedy highlight:- Booing Jim Fallon (yes, that Jim Fallon), now a physio with the Accies, when he came on to treat a player. To be fair, he took it well and gave us a cheery wave. 42 defeats though.....I mean to say. 42 defeats in 50 games. How can he laugh about it ? Has the man no shame ?