Sunday 26th January 2014
SONS under-19s boss Colin Nish is determined to take the positives after his charges let a three-goal lead slip to draw 4-4 in a topsy-turvy clash with Ayr United.
The Sons were 4-1 up in what was a pulsating sectional leage cup tie, but leaked 3 late goals to allow United to share the spoils.
Nish said : “We threw away two points today and it really was a game of two-halves.
“We dominated the first period and whilst 4-1 at the break sounds good, I felt we needed more goals as Ayr would be then shooting with the wind and downhill and this would cause us problems.
“But despite dropping two points, the team played very well and I can’t be too hard on them.”
Sons opened the scoring in 17 mins with Alan Frizzell tapping home but Ayr were back on level terms just 60 seconds later.
On a slick surface, the opening quarter was played at a frantic pace with Dumbarton dominating.
Donald McCallum restored the home team’s lead with a superb solo effort and then he grabbed Sons 3rd and his second before Andy Biddulph made it 4-1 after half-an-hour’s play.
Ayr struck back to reduce the defecit to two goals just 1 minute into the second half and after an hour they were just one behind.
And just when it looked like Sons would hang on for a vital first win in the league cup section, a late free kick was fumbled by Lumsden who pushed the ball into the path of an onrushing Ayr foward who made no mistake from 3 yards.
Sons now face Queens Park next Sunday in Glasgow.
Team : Lumsden: Martin, Deans, Lightbody, Alexander: Auochet, McCallum, Beaton, McArthur: Frizzell, Biddulph. Subs : Fulton, Blaine, McIntyre, Duncan, Hopkins
Alan Findlay