Our women’s side closed our their inaugural SWFL West campaign under the Dumbarton FC name away to already-crowned champions Bishopton Ladies at Park Mains High School across the river in Erskine this afternoon.
The girls who joined the club, carrying over from Dumbarton United, have had a good debut campaign with some excellent results and performances, marred by a few inconsistent performances that are to be expected with a squad that is made up with many teenage players.
They headed over to Erskine hoping to spoil the day for Bishopton, who have only dropped points once all season, before they received the league trophy at full time.
Head coach Gerry Gallacher and his coaching team made a duo of changes from last weeks 8-0 thrashing of Benburb, with Neamh MacNeil returning from unavailability in place of Natasha Lewis, and Gemma Smith coming into the starting team to replace Olivia Oliver.
The girls would applaud their opponents on to the park with a guard of honour, showing respect to worthy and deserved champions over the season.
The girls would take the game to the table toppers from the offing, maintaining possession and making several openings before after only ten minutes Gemma Smith, playing on the right-hand side of an advanced midfield three, chipped Bishopton keeper Cerys MacIntyre with an audacious effort from just inside the right-hand side of the box to give the girls a deserved lead. The goal was a trademark finish from Smith, who has impressed all season with her accuracy both from set pieces and open play. This strike was her 9th of the campaign.
The side would be unlucky not to add to their lead in the following minutes with efforts from both captain Eva McInnes and Smith going just wide.
The girls would then be hit by a fury of dangerous corners, with Bishopton’s Lucy Marshall sending three consecutive kicks right on top of Kira Swallow and the DFC defence in the six-yard area and each time the ball would pinball around and fall to the feet of Caitlin Greaves who would grab a 7-minute hat-trick for the hosts.
The girls would rally after the water break, Swallow would send a long punt up field which would be controlled excellently by Catriona McAllister, the top scorer would play a quick-fire one-two with Smith before slotting past MacIntyre with a cool finish to get the Lassies of the Rock back in the match.
McAllister, who has been in outstanding form all season then outdid herself, with good work down the left from McInnes leading to a break of the ball outside the area, McAllister would latch onto it and thunder a strike into the net, a late contender for goal of the season to get the girls deservedly level.
The hosts had only conceded once in their last nine matches and had only lost three twice all season to Saint Anthony’s and Rossvale, emphasising how well the girls had performed in the first half.
They would become the first SWFL West side to hit four against the champions and complete a superb turnaround when McAllister once again found herself through on goal, and you’d be safe in putting your house on Catriona in that position, as she calmly slotted home to grab yet another hat-trick to finish a great season that has seen the forward hit an incredible 29 goals; nearly half of the teams 63 this campaign.
Bishopton would however level the game at 4-4 right on half time with another excellent corner.
Into the second half and the girls would show the effects of an excellent first half effort mixed with the warm conditions, firstly conceding a penalty from Bishopton’s first corner off the half with from a handball, which the hosts would convert.
They would add another two goals early in the second period to finish the tie off, with the girls just running out of steam after a long season, the opposition had a large home support backing them on ahead of the title presentation post-match, spurring them on to finish the match while the Dumbarton girls tired.
The side showed tremendous resilience to score four at the home of such a strong, experienced side and will be hoping to match the form of their opponents in the upcoming 2025/26 campaign.
Post match Gerry praised both sides for their seasons and performances.
He said: “It was a great game for the players and no doubt the large crowd enjoyed it to.
“We created chances, and from open play scored enough amazing goals to win any other game.
“The girls almost spoilt Bishoptons title celebration, but losing 5 set piece goals, was a tough one to take and is something we’ll need to address pre-season
“Bishopton did gain the upper hand towards the end and comfortably saw the game out.
“We may have lost the game, but girls demonstrated today to everyone watching that they are a match for any team.”
He also had messages for both sets of players.
“To my side enjoy the break and I look forward to seeing you all in July
“And we’d like to wish Bishopton all the very best representing the West region at the play offs and hope to see them progress to promotion, good luck.”
Midfielder Sophie Dempster, who continued to impress in a central triangle with Sophie Reid and Gracie Williamson praised her teammates post-match, while also lamenting the sides issues from corner kicks.
She said:” I think we gave them a good game, we had a really good start and we kept a positive energy throughout the first half, but we were just unlucky in the second and the game got away from us.
“We just couldn’t deal with the corners; they were bigger than us but it’s something we need to work on definitely.”
The girls finish the season with 31 points from 18 matches.
All at Dumbarton would like to thank Gerry, coaches John Dempster and Kenny McInnes, along with Eva and the girls for all their efforts over the season. The girls will return in July, starting with a home friendly with Stewarton Annick on Sunday the 27th with full details to be confirmed via the sides social pages in due course.
See you all in 2025/26, keep an eye out on the site for any official updates regarding the club.