Tuesday 23rd July 2013
THREE goals in the first half helped Dumbarton to a morale-boosting victory over Falkirk in the final of the 2012/13 Stirlingshire Cup – but only after thwarting a dangerous second half revival from the visitors.
The young Sons side started out with several first team players, and their experience showed in the opening 45 minutes. A goal from Mark Gilhaney on 15 minutes and a further two from Donald McCallum and Bryan Prunty just after the half hour emphasised Dumbarton’s early superiority.
However, it was a very different story after the break when Sons, with three substitutes on the pitch from the kick off, began to lose the plot. The Bairns pulled two goals back to make it 3-2 inside 68 minutes.
Dumbarton briefly threatened after Falkirk’s Connor Greene was red carded for pulling down Sons’ Mark Gilhaney with only the goalkeeper to beat. But the pressure was soon back on. ‘Keeper Josh Lumsden made two important saves late on in the second half.
In the end, Sons held on to claim the silverware deservedly. This is their third win in four consecutive Stirlingshire Cup Final appearances since 2009/10, with thee of them against the Bairns.
Overall, Dumbarton have now competed in 22 finals, claiming a remarkable 16 victories. The Stirlingshire Cup is one of the oldest competitions in Scottish football, starting in 1883/84.
Full match report and photos online.
Simon Barrow