Written by John - OTR Saturday, 20 April 2002 00:00

This was the biggest game at The Rock in its short history and Sons came through will flying colours. Peterhead were demolished by a second half barrage from Dumbarton, with three terrific goals.

The second half may have been all Sons, but the first half was a much tighter affair. In the first five minutes, Sons could have been 1-0 down, when a Peterhead free kick from about 35 yards screamed by John Wight and cannoned off the crossbar. Peterhead had another great chance when somehow one of their attackers managed to squeeze by 5 Sons defenders before shooting past.

John Wight played his part in the game when he made a great save when one on one with a Peterhead attacker. The ball spilled out and Craig Brittain, almost on his own goal line, humped the ball into the Leven to keep it the scores level.

Paddy had a great chance on the half hour mark when he was put through one on one but the keeper came out and blocked his shot.

Arguably the turning point came in the 38th minute of the game. Paddy was fouled by Shaun McSkimming in the centre circle. The referee gave a foul but as Paddy and McSkimming were walking towards the goal, McSkimming appeared to strike Flannery and was shown the red card. Paddy obviously didn't keep his mouth shut during the ensuring fracas and got a booking too.

Shortly after Paddy had another great chance when a cross found him unmarked in the box, but the header was weak and off target.

In the second half Sons, with the extra man advantage, took control of the game. Joe Robertson was having a great game with the extra space available and set up numerous attacks down the left. In the 50th minute, Paddy had a great opporunity to release Joe Robertson down the middle but held onto the ball for too long, and the chance went a begging.

The first goal came in the 61st minute. Joe Robertson took the ball down left, spotted Dunn free on the right wing and sent an inch perfect path right into Dunn's path. Dunn took the ball into the box and rifled it past the keeper from 8 yards.

Just 4 minutes later Andy Brown produced the goal of his career to put Sons two ahead. He picked up the ball just on the edge of the box and laid it off to Joe Robertson on the left. Joe drew two defenders in before returning the ball to Brown on the edge of the box. Bomber teed it up and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top right corner. The Rock erupted in noise and celebration, during which Bomber gave Paddy a kiss on the cheek!

At 2-0 the game was as good as won, but even against ten men, there was still a doubt or two. Sons were well on top at this stage but for 20 minutes could not get another goal. A Robert Dunn shot produced a great tip over from the Peterhead keeper, Mark Crilly blasted a shot well over the bar and Paddy put a shot wide. Even wee Craigy tried to get in on the act but he shot well over.

The game was sealed in the 83rd minute when all three of Dumbarton's substitutes combined to produce the third goal. Craig Lynes picked the ball up deep in his own half, kept his feet after a blatant attempt to bring him down and took the ball into the Peterhead half. As he got towards the penalty box he hit the ball too far in front of him and the Peterhead number 6 slid in to challenge. Uncharacteristically, Lynes went in solidly and the ball went through to Danny McKelvie whose attempt was blocked by a defender. Finally the balled rolled out to the incoming John Dillon who made no mistake.

Dumbarton's promotion challenge is still moving and it all comes down to next week's home game against Queen's Park. If we win, we're up. If we can't beat Queen's, who are bottom, at home, then perhaps we don't deserve to go up.