Written by John - OTR Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00

This was an uninspired performance by the Sons.

Ten minutes into the game, City took the lead after what was initially a good bit covering by Davie Stewart. Unfortunately his poor clearance fell to a City player. The ball was played to City's Hind and be curled the ball in from 25 yards.

Dumbarton's response was immediate. Following the kick off, an up-and-under was heading to the City penalty area.The City keeper out started to come for but he got halfway before realising he wasn't going to get anywhere near it. Bomber Brown headed the ball towards goal where Craig Lynes outjumped a defender to head it into the net.

At the start of the second half, Dumbarton spoiled two fine chances. Joe Robertson had a good shot saved and Paddy Flannery should have done better when he received the ball after a defensive blunder but his shot was too close to the keeper.

City took the lead again, in the 50th minute when Stevie Jack was ajudged to have fouled a City player in the box. As this was at the other end of the pitch to me, I didn't get a good view but there didn't seem to be anything in the challenge. Despite a good attempt by Hillcoat, City scored from the spot.

5 minutes later, the City keeper made a great save from a Davie Stewart piledriver. There wasn't much else to report until Sons equalised. This was in the 71st minute when a Mark Crilly corner drifted over everybody and ended up in the back of the net. There was a suggestion that Paddy may have had the final touch, but it was given to Crilly.

Dumbarton were determined to win the game and stepped up the pressure in the second half with sub Craig Brittain (himself unlucky not to win a penalty) providing some width down the left, but at the same time they were losing cohesion at the back. In the final minutes, Andy Brown header had a header loop onto the bar from a John Dillon cutback. And City could have won the game had it there not been a good save from Hillcoat and a goal line clearance from Bonar.