Match Report

The Frank McKeown era at Dumbarton ended with defeat in the first West Dunbartonshire derby for a generation.

A sell-out crowd at Holm Park saw the Lowland League West Bankies run riot, with Oisin McHugh’s first-half opener added to by Neil McLaughlin and ex-Son Dom Docherty in the second-half. A bad night at the office was rounded off by a luckless Mason Munn own goal in stoppage time, with boss McKeown stepping down the following morning after just over 10 months in the role.

Youngsters Barry Campbell, Ben McKenna and David Ruddy were all called up to the squad for the first competitive derby since November 2001, with Tom Lang not risked and Kristian Webster missing due to work commitments.

Straight from the off it was the home side who were on top, as Gordon Moffat’s men had two efforts cleared from close range. First Neil McLaughlin was superbly denied inside the six yard box by Mason Munn, before Tommy Robson nipped in with a perfectly timed challenge to deny Jimmy Grant a tap-in.

Aside from a Robbie Cleary cross-shot that was pushed over the bar by home keeper Owen Stott, Sons were struggling to get a foothold in the game – with Munn again in action to push away a low Aidan Callaghan drive. However he was powerless to prevent the hosts finding a breakthrough with 23 minutes played.

Nicky Low’s deep delivery found skipper Oisin McHugh ghosting in at the far post, with the full-back looping an effort over the full-stretch Munn and into the net.

Sons’ best hope of a reply looked like it would come via Josiah Sowa who was looking lively down the right, but he found no takers for a couple of deliveries as Dumbarton struggled to create openings.

On the stroke of half-time however a chance did arrive, with Robbie Cleary’s corner dropping for Kai Kirkpatrick at the far post – however he got underneath his effort and lashed over.

After weathering an early storm, Dumbarton’s best period in the game arrived at the start of the second-half. A driving Mikey Doyle run saw the full-back dig out a cross that found Josiah Sowa at the far post, but he could only hit the side-netting.

Kai Kirkpatrick’s clever pass then sent Robbie Cleary surging in behind McHugh, but he hesitated instead of getting a shot away – and Scott Forrester appeared to clear the danger.

Those missed opportunities proved vital as the Bankies wrestled back control of the game.

Jimmy Grant missed the target from a great position inside the area with Munn rooted to the spot, before the Northern Irish keeper performed heroics to deny Blair Rossiter from close range and then Scott Forrester from the edge of the box.

However he couldn’t prevent Bankies talisman Neil McLaughlin from doubling the home side’s advantage, with the forward quickest to react to stab in after Forrester’s header had hit the bar.

Sons almost found a lifeline as powerful play from Leighton McIntosh rolled Forrester, with his cut-back just missed by the sliding Sowa, but the momentum was now all with the home side.

With just over 10 minutes remaining Dom Docherty rubbed salt in the wounds as the former Son, who made the switch down the A82 in January, picked up possession on the edge of the box and curled a low drive into the bottom corner.

And the rout was completed in stoppage time. Docherty this time was the creator, slipping in Kieran Dolan – with his shot hitting the post, bouncing off the head of the full stretch Munn and rolling into the net.

Clydebank 4

23′ Oisin McHugh, 64′ Neil McLaughlin, 78′ Dom Docherty, 90’+2 (OG) Mason Munn

Dumbarton 0

Yellow cards: 52′ David Craig, 66′ Kai Kirkpatrick

Referee: Calum Foreman
Attendance: 1,200

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Post-match reaction