Tuesday 24th September 2013
SONS custody of the Stirlingshire Cup was given up tonight following a 3-1 defeat at the skillful feet of a young Falkirk team who impressed throughout the game.
Kevin Smith gave Dumbarton an early platform after just two minutes by slotting past the Bairns ‘keeper following a defensive mistake, however it proved to be the only highlight of the half from a Sons perspective.
Falkirk drew level on the half hour with a Faulds shot eluding Grindlay and just four minutes later a looping header from Shepherd gave the home team a deserved lead.
On a slick surface, Dumbarton’s young back line struggled to cope with the pace of the Falkirk strikers and two minutes from the break found themselves 3-1 down.
Manager Ian Murray alongside Jack Ross and 19s coach Colin Nish made a change at the start of the second period with Nicky Phinn replacing McArthur.
And the experienced midfielder almost brought Sons back into the match with a long range shot that fizzed past the ‘keeper’s right-hand post.
Kevin Smith found himself through on goal minutes later but his shot was pulled wide.
Despite a better second half effort, Sons couldn’t quite find the spark to get back into the game, and the youngsters on show acquited themselves well.
Falkirk didn’t quite reach the heights of their first half performance, but did enough to keep Sons at bay to book their spot in the final against either Stirling Albion or East Stirlingshire.
Team : Grindlay, Alexander, S Smith, Lunday, Deans, McArthur (Phinn), Kirkpatrick, McKerracher (Cook), Fleming, K Smith, McDougall (McIntyre) : Sub not used – Fulton (GK)
Alan Findlay