A COMBINATION of Some bad luck and poor finishing deprived Dumbarton of any reward from their home game against Brechin City on Saturday afternoon.
A 751-strong crowd enjoying a pleasant spring afternoon at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium saw Sons have a slight edge in the first half against Jim Duffy's men, but experienced keeper Craig Nelson was seldom troubled with most efforts at goal off target.
At the other end young keeper Michael White showed no signs of nerves and also had few saves to make.
In the second half the visitors, led by high-scoring striker Rory McAllister, had slightly the better of play, and they took the lead in the 57th minute. White dived to his left to parry a free kick, but the ever alert Kevin Byers was on hand to net the rebound.
Sons attacked on both wings for the rest of the game, but once again showed the lack of penetration which has cost them dear this season. The closest they came to a goal was when a header by Dennis Wyness (pictured) was saved by Nelson.
Brechin probably deserved their narrow victory which keeps them in the hunt for a play-off place, but this defeat for Dumbarton — their fourth in a row — sparked fears that they could be dragged into the relegation area.
Sons manager Jim Chapman said after the game: “We are doing a lot of good things, just not scoring, and if you don't do that, you don't win games.
“We knocked the ball about for fun, got into great areas, and then when the ball came in, there was nothing. We were second best in the most important areas.”
- Dumbarton: White; Chisholm, Smith, Dunlop, Gordon, Clark, Geggan (Chaplain 68), McNiff (O'Donoghue 48), Carcary, Wyness, Murray (Hunter 68). Subs not used: Brannan, keeper Vojacek. Booked: Dunlop.
- Brechin City: Nelson; Walker, Dyer, McLean, Smith, Janczyk, Byers, Fusco, McAllister (Cowan 83), King (Canning 90), Docherty (Masson 90). Subs not used: Seeley, keeper Scott.
- Referee: Gary Hilland.
* This Tuesday, frost permitting, Dumbarton will host Alan Maitland’s league-leading Alloa Athletic, kick-off 7.45 p.m., and on Saturday they travel to play John Coughlin’s Stenhousemuir, the team just above them in the league on goal difference, kick-off 3 p.m.
