Written by Administrator Friday, 14 November 2008 12:16

Well, I suppose I'd best do some sort of write up of the Stenhousemuir game.

Quite frankly, I was disappointed. The fact that this was a top of the table clash and that Dumbarton were unbeaten in eight games must have raised my expectations of the game. I was anticipating some better-than-third-division quality football, some fluid passing, you know, GOOD football. But it was the same old shite.

Of the new players on show (well new for me), only a couple stood out. Stevie Murray and Ben Gordon. Murray certainly has the tricks and the ability to play at a higher level. Ben Gordon was pretty solid at the back, especially in the second half.

The match was marred by the two early red cards. Stennie's red was totally deserved, I thought. The "tackle" would not have looked out of place in a Bruce Lee movie or on Soccer AM's Kung Fu section. In contrast, I think Sons were unlucky to have Wilson sent off. A few years ago, the tackle would have been described as a 50-50 ball. It looked and sounded like both players played the ball at the same time but the Stenny player's rolling around and the reaction of his teammates lead the referee to produce the red.

The remainder of the first half was largely forgettable, with the exception of Gordon Lennon's appalling distribution and crossing.

The second half was a little better. The aforementioned Gordon Lennon was involved in Stenny's goal. There was a bit of a stramash in front of goal following a cross. Gordon Lennon at the back of the six yard area, headered the ball backwards into what he probably thought was a safe area. Unfortunately there was a Stenny player lurking who teed the ball up for Brand to hit a cracking shot into the net.

Dumbarton stepped up their play after that and for while were really exerting pressure, winning corner upon corner. But at no point did they ever look like scoring from one.

In the final ten minutes, Murray got some reward for his play when his goal bound shot took a deflection, wrongfooting the keeper, and ending up in the net, giving Sons an fortuitous draw.