Our women’s side completed the double over Harmony Row this season with a hard-fought 2–1 comeback victory at Sir Alex Ferguson Park earlier this afternoon.
Head Coach Gerry Gallacher made two changes to the team that lost to St Anthony’s last time out, with Sophie Dempster and Sophie Reid coming into the starting XI in place of the unavailable Gemma Russell and Olivia Oliver.
Gallacher opted for a new diamond formation, using full-backs Eva McInnes and Neamh MacNeil to provide width while deploying four players across the midfield.
The team started brightly, with the additional presence in midfield allowing for some impressive one-touch passing. However, despite dominating possession, a lack of quality in the final ball saw the first half pass without reward.
Against the run of play, Harmony Row capitalised on a loose second ball, turning quickly to fire a shot into the top corner past Kira Swallow, who could do nothing to keep it out.
Dumbarton responded well, maintaining pressure on the hosts and winning a penalty shortly before the break. However, the Harmony Row goalkeeper produced an excellent save to deny Gemma Smith from the spot and preserve their lead heading into half-time.
At the interval, Gallacher made tactical adjustments, pushing McInnes further forward onto the wing and switching to a traditional 4-4-2 formation.
The change paid immediate dividends. Early in the second half, Smith atoned for her earlier penalty miss by delivering a pinpoint cross-field pass to Catriona McAllister, who controlled brilliantly and finished coolly past the onrushing keeper to level the score.
Momentum firmly shifted in Dumbarton’s favour, and the comeback was complete when Player’s Player of the Year Gracie Williamson found herself through on goal. After McAllister’s shot slipped past the goalkeeper, Williamson showed great composure to round the keeper and tap into an empty net, capping another outstanding midfield performance from the young star.
Further opportunities followed, with McInnes and MacNeil both going close, but neither was able to add to the scoreline.
The team managed the closing stages with maturity and professionalism, navigating some questionable refereeing decisions without allowing Harmony Row to build any sustained pressure.
A deserved victory sees Dumbarton return to winning ways, with two fixtures remaining in what has been a hugely promising debut season under the Dumbarton FC banner.
Speaking post-match the boss was pleased with the second half performance.
He said: “The defensive mistake and gifting Harmony Row an early goal upset the game plan.
“We tried a different shape in our midfield and that mixed with Harmony Row sitting in after their goal resulted in limited chances for us in the first half.
“But I felt the half time changes improved that, we went 2- 1 up and it could have been more. S
“Some stand out players for me today like Gracie, Sophie and Neamh.
“Although the team overall was not at its best they still ran out comfortable winners and that’s what counts.”
Defensive rock Niamh McAleer backed up her gaffers thoughts on the second half improvement.
She said: “I think the first half was a bit slow, I think it was just people not really knowing their positions with the new formation, which was a last-minute change.
“The second half definitely picked up; I think it was quite a strong game in the end.
“Our passing was our strong point today and I’m very pleased with the victory.”
The girls have a free week next weekend as the men’s team finish up their campaign away to Stenhousemuir before the ladies host Benburb at East End Park in Dumbarton for their final home match and finish up with a trip to champions Bishopton the week after the close out the campaign.