Saturday 13th August 2016
MARK DOCHERTY was bestowed with one new title in the close season.
Now, as well as being a husband, he looks like he’s gained another two.
Penalty taker…and top goalscorer.
The latter of those tags is indisputable. After six competitive games of season 2016/17, his tally of three goals puts him out on his own, one ahead of Robert Thomson.
And he’s aiming to make sure he keeps taking the spot kicks after four successful conversions, including in the Betfred Cup penalty shootout against Peterhead with a ‘Panenka’ effort.
There was nothing fancy about his latest successful strike in Saturday’s game against Dundee United. It was ferocious, it was accurate…and it was the winner.
Mark said: “I’ve not had that start to many seasons but I’m delighted with another goal which got us a great win.
“After putting away four penalties in a row, Garry Fleming will need to wait for me to miss one before he gets to take one! Hopefully that will be some time away.
“Over the course of the 90 minutes I thought we were the better side. We really frustrated Dundee United and they ran out of ideas.
“We worked really hard for each other and knew we had to stick together.”
Having started on the bench at Dunfermline last week, Mark was a makeshift centre half for Sons against United, but put in a man of the match display.
He is now targeting three more points away to Morton next Saturday in a game which takes on some significance to Sons.
He added: “Nobody gave us a chance today. Everybody expected Dundee United to win but we proved last season that we can take on teams like them at home, beating Hibs and St Mirren twice.
“We will be going to Cappielow in a better frame of mind and aware of the importance of the game.
“I was disappointed not to start last week, but I am simply keen to play and was happy to step in at centre half.”
Andy Galloway