Match Report

The young Sons showed their steel to come out on top in a seven goal thriller against Edinburgh City at a sunny Newtown Park, Bo’ness.

In the first final of a possible cup double for Dumbarton U20s, it was Edinburgh that started the brighter with three corners in the first ten minutes and number nine Kasper Kitchin forcing a smart save from Zak Watson in the Sons’ goal.

Dumbarton looked a little nervy but grew into the game with some good passages of play down the left, and it was from one of those that they had a penalty claim.

Aeden Gilfedder ran onto a long ball over the top by Man of the Match Derin Marshall and his run into the box looked to be halted by an Edinburgh defender, but the officials waved away all appeals.

Watson was then called into action again at the other end, tipping a curling shot onto the post.

From that moment on the first half belonged to Dumbarton, and the breakthrough finally came in the 36th minute.

Jonny Ouaga’s shot was saved by Edinburgh ‘keeper Inglis. The ball then broke out to Aeden Gilfedder on the left side of the box; he played in Max McArthur who hit it low through a ruck of players and into the net via a deflection from a city defender on the line.

McArthur’s second came a few minutes later, when he controlled the ball on the edge of the box, before sending a right footed drive high past the despairing dive of Inglis.

Max said post-match: “When the first one came to me, I knew Aeden would give me it down the line.

“He likes to go by himself sometimes, but he gave me it that time and I knew I had to score.

“The second one, on my weak foot, I don’t normally score them but got to take the shot.”

A coming together just before half time with an Edinburgh defender saw Jonny Ouaga receive a yellow card and be replaced by Dean Rhappozzoh at the break.

Early in the second half the substitute was sent through one-on-one but watched his effort crash back off the ‘keeper. 

Edinburgh City posed a threat throughout the game, and they were rewarded 16 minutes into the second half. A header from a corner was palmed back into the danger area by Watson and Lucas Quinn was on hand to finish.

City’s joy at pulling a goal back only lasted two minutes as Dumbarton raced back up the park to score a third and restore their two goal lead.

A good run down the right by Captain Murray Nicol saw the ball pulled back to Panos Grivas, his shot was saved by Inglis but only turned into the path of Aeden Gilfedder who made no mistake from close range.

At this point Dumbarton may have taken their foot off the gas a little and were reminded they were still in a game when Kitchin dispatched a penalty to make it 3-2 after he was taken down in the box.

Awoken from their slumber, the Sons proceeded to hit the woodwork on more than one occasion, but as they pushed for that elusive fourth goal they were caught with a gut punch.

Edinburgh broke forward again and a mis-hit shot from outside the box was diverted into the net by that man Kitchin.

The opposing players and fans protested he was in an offside position, but the linesman’s flag stayed down.

With minutes to go, Dumbarton had to again call on that never say die attitude that has served them so well this season.

Three minutes into added time, a hopeful ball in from the right fell for super sub Barry Campbell. 

He showed great strength to hold off a defender and poke the ball under the advancing ‘keeper, sending the Sons fans into raptures and the Knockout Cup back to the Rock.

Dumbarton head coach Jordan Woodford said: “The boys showed incredible character and resilience. 

“It would have been easy for them to collapse once the game went level, but they powered on and got exactly what they deserved.”

All roads lead to Ochilview next Friday (May 22, 7.45pm KO) as the U20s take on Stirling Albion in the Challenge Cup final, where they will aim to complete the historic cup double.

Match report by Paul Cooper

Dumbarton U20s 4

36′, 39′ Max McArthur, 63′ Aedan Gilfedder, 90’+3 Barry Campbell

Yellow cards: 44′ Jonny Ouaga, 56′ Dean Rhappozzoh, 82′ Barry Campbell

Edinburgh City U20s 3

61′ Lucas Quinn, 67′, 85′ Kasper Kitchin