Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Dumbarton v Stenhousemuir at the C&G Systems Stadium, Dumbarton on 30.03.19

Ladbrokes SPFL League One              Att 613

Dumbarton 1 [C.Barr 85] Stenhousemuir 2 [Marsh 27, McBrearty 72]

Dumbarton – Adam, Ballantyne, Hutton, Gallagher, Forbes, B.Barr, Ferguson [Armour 82], Paton [Melingui h/t], Thomas, Thomson and C.Barr. Subs not used – Tshibangu, McLean and Russell.

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Reid, Donaldson, Neill, Marsh [Gibbons 76], Ferry, McGuigan [Ross 89], Munro, Dingwall, McBrearty and Hurst [Halleran 81]. Subs not used – Duthie, Dickson and Watters.

Referee – Steven Reid                       Assistants – Stuart Hodge and Ryan Lee.

Trips to Dumbarton over the years have not been fruitful for the Warriors. This was to be an exception though as they fought for a well deserved victory though there were nerves in the latter stages of the game.

In the third minute a Russell Dingwall layoff picked out Greg Hurst but his effort went just wide. There then followed Dumbarton’s best spell of the first half with Dom Thomas timing his run to have only the goalie to beat but he tried to be cute and nutmeg Graeme Smith and he was able to save. Bobby Barr then came close with an effort across goal. If the Dumbarton supporters were getting enthused about this they were to be disappointed about how the game developed as after this burst it was Stenhousemuir who got a grip on the game.

It came as no surprise when the Warriors eventually took the lead in the 27^th minute of the game when David Marsh bulleted a header past Grant Adam from a Hurst corner. Despite being the stronger team the visitors though had to be content with a solitary goal by half time.

The danger of a one goal lead was highlighted in the 53^rd minute when Smith spilled a Kyle Hutton strike. Although the Sons were creating better chances it was Stenhousemuir who scored the second goal. Connor McBrearty intercepted a poor back pass and advanced on goal and despite the efforts of the Dumbarton defence he held off the challenge before dragging the ball past Afam and into the net.

Dumbarton made changes to get back into the game and Boris Melingui made an impact in the 76^th minute as he forced Smith into a one handed save with a powerful drive,  Smith though was beaten in the 85^th minute when Craig Barr slotted a shot into the corner of the net from a Ross Forbes corner.

This led to a fraught end to the game and Graeme Smith proved to be the hero with a double save in stoppage ti,e as he first of all denied Forbes and then denied Melingui once again with a superb save that meant that when the end came the Warriors were travelling back to Ochilview with all three points.