Saturday 27th August 2022
ALLY LOVE admitted that the chance to make history spurred Dumbarton on at half time in today’s 2-1 win over Elgin City.
Having gone in at half time a goal down, Sons were staring down the barrel of failing to beat the club’s all-time record by starting a league season with five straight wins.
But within 10 second half minutes, that possibility was completely overturned. A double of penalties by the forward put them into a lead which they maintained for the rest of the afternoon.
It was also a delayed birthday present for Ally, who turned 31 on Monday.
He said: “I’m delighted, especially after the first half. The gaffer had a few choice words at half time and we knew ourselves that it wasn’t good enough with the standards we have set.
“We couldn’t keep the ball, and there is enough experience in there to know that it wasn’t good enough. The second half is what happens if you put teams under pressure – they will make mistakes, and the first 15-20 minutes of that half was more like us.
“The gaffer reminded us that we had the chance to be the first Dumbarton team to win five out of five at the start of a league season and that added fuel for us.
“When you have a bit of history at stake and come in 1-0 down at half time you can let your head go down, but the boys knew it was important.
“I have hit penalties for every club I have been at. I know what today meant to the fans – they have watched really good teams and it was brilliant to score two goals.
“It had been playing on my mind that I hadn’t scored for Dumbarton yet. I aim for double figures every season I play. But I don’t mind as long as we are getting three points.
“You could hear the backing of the crowd, getting right behind the team, even when we were 1-0 down. That gave us a massive lift.
“It’s going to be a massive season and I know there is a bit of a connection already between the players and the fans. That’s what you want.”
An away double header now awaits Dumbarton, at East Fife next Saturday and at Stranraer seven days later.
Although Ally admits the two fixtures will be difficult, he hopes that the fine start to the season can continue.
He added: “They will be tough – every single game is tough. Different teams set up in different ways.
“Elgin went quite direct today. They came here with a plan and it worked for them in the first half. East Fife and Stranraer will be different.
“But if we keep playing as we are and demand standards from each other, there is no reason not to keep picking up results.”
Dumbarton Football Club