Saturday 15th September 2018
EMERGING from the dressing room area into the foyer, Andy Dowie does not have a nosebleed.
Which may confound a few expectations.
“Very good” is the Dumbarton captain’s response to a query as to whether he has such a condition after his second goal of the season – in September.
Prior to this season, Andy’s last goal was scored for Queen of the South against Queen’s Park in July 2016.
His previous goal in a league outing was 18 months earlier, also for the Doonhamers, against Livingston.
So reaching his second goal of the season in the sixth league game, a vital 2-1 win for Sons against Montrose, may seem to be a purple patch.
But it’s not the first time he’s been in this sort of form.
Speaking to www.dumbartonfootballclub.com, Andy said: “Believe it or not, I used to score quite a few. In my days with Ross County I’d get five or six goals a season.
“But that’s some time ago. It’s good to get my second goal of the season, and more importantly contribute to a big win.
“People will say that Montrose had a man sent off but we deserved it in any case.
“You could possibly say that parts of the game followed similar patterns to last week. We were under some pressure in the last five minutes but we were desperate to hang on for the win.
“It’s been really tough for everybody in the last few weeks – the manager, coaches and players. It’s a horrible situation to be in, going so long without a result.
“But we showed incredible character after going in a goal down at half time when we didn’t deserve to be. It would have seemed the easiest thing to do for us to go out there feeling sorry for ourselves but we didn’t do that.
“There’s always been confidence among us. We know we’ve a good squad but we’ve not been performing, individually or as a team.
“We’ve been losing poor goals and missing chances to score. When you do that you are likely to lose goals.”
Andy now leads Dumbarton into another battle, away to Airdrie next week, aiming for a result that could put them who knows where.
After Saturday’s results, three points separate third place from bottom of League One. Eight points separate the entire division.
Andy doesn’t expect the league to change its nature anytime soon.
He added: “It will be a tough game. Airdrie have started the season well and we know how difficult it will be.
“We want to be competing at the top end of the division. With a couple of victories you can be there, a couple of defeats you can be bottom half.
“Then we face Raith Rovers. It is two big games against teams who are aiming to be promoted – as are we, 100 per cent.
“It’s going to be like that for the next few months. Come about Christmas time we’ll know who’s likely to be pulling away at the top and who’s likely to be adrift at the bottom.”
© Fullarton Photos 2018
Andy Galloway