Saturday 17th December 2016
IF a week is a long time in football, then Garry Fleming has just shown what a stretch 11 days can be.
A week and four days ago, he left the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium pitch a broken man.
One word explains it. Bonnyrigg.
Fast forward 11 days and he was wheeling away in celebration, having scored what proves to be the goal that helped Dumbarton beat Falkirk.
And part of Sons’ motivation to claim the result? They owed it to themselves and the fans.
Garry, who has now scored the winner in four of his team’s last five victories, said: “I’m delighted, firstly with the three points and getting on the scoresheet. I’m looking to score going into every game.
“We knew as players that in the last home game, we weren’t up to standard. We let the fans and the club down and all we’ve talked about since is making it up to the fans.
“So from that point of view, it’s a great result for us, along with lifting us up to eighth in the table.
“Other results have gone our way today, but the only games we worry about are our own. Whatever happens elsewhere will happen and all we’ll focus on next week is Ayr United.”
There was one man with Dumbarton connections who wasn’t happy to see Garry charging in on goal – Falkirk keeper Danny Rogers.
Having already conceded an injury time equaliser to his former Sons team-mate last season, the Irishman was fishing the ball out of the net again at Saturday’s key moment.
Garry added: “I never considered that Danny would know what I was going to do. My only thought was to hit it as early as possible.
“I spoke to Danny after the game and he said it was a good shot. I hit it too early for him and I’m just glad it went in the bottom corner.
“The Ayr game next week is a big one but we’ll take it as it comes and work hard in training this week.
“The last time we played them was also disappointing, also in front of the home fans. Somerset Park will be a tough place to go, but we have something else to make up for.
“We are in a good place after today’s result and are looking forward to it.”
Andy Galloway