Tuesday 2nd June 2020
OUR panel of four supporters continue their countdown of Dumbarton’s 100 greatest games at its current stadium with numbers 90 to 86 today.
Jack Crawford, Fraser Clarke, Andy Galloway and Graeme Robertson have worked over the last few weeks to compile the countdown, with the final rankings based on average positions.
Today’s games are against Brechin City, Falkirk, Berwick Rangers, Cowdenbeath and Hamilton Accies.
Numbers 85 to 81 will be online on Thursday at 10am.
90. Dumbarton 4-2 Brechin City – Saturday, May 5, 2012
There’s no such thing as a non-positive victory with four goals at home. What made this even more impressive was that Dumbarton won this with barely half of their first choice team.
The likes of Scott Agnew, Alan Lithgow and Bryan Prunty were all in the stand ahead of…events that we’ll get to later in this series.
But talk about giving the manager a selection headache ahead of…other games, especially if you were Craig Dargo.
The other surprise element of this game was that it was goalless until the 53rd minute when Charlie King gave Brechin the lead.
This was where Dargo came in – 59, 62, 72. A hat-trick which made life comfortable for Dumbarton and made it three wins in a row.
Even though Craig Molloy got a late goal back for Brechin, an even later one by Glenn Thomson, on as a sub for his first team debut, completed the scoring for Sons.
89. Dumbarton 1-1 Falkirk – Saturday, March 12, 2016
We’ve already seen during this series how hard Dumbarton were capable of making life for Falkirk at what is now the C&G Systems Stadium.
Even when dealt a fairly unfortunate hand, they were always capable of giving the Bairns a game – with this one breaking into life midway through the second half.
Mark Docherty was deemed guilty of a handball in the area, and with it came the red card. John Baird stepped up to do what he has done so often against Sons – score.
But in front of the BBC Alba live TV cameras, Dumbarton were not about to let Falkirk leave the stadium with all three points for the second time this season without a fight.
It was that fight which got them level, as in the 90th minute, the referee was pointing to the spot again, this time after Danny Rogers nudged over Christian Nade in the area.
Garry Fleming stepped up to get Sons the result they deserved.
88. Dumbarton 2-0 Berwick Rangers – Saturday, April 11 2009
Routine though it was, this was an important result for Dumbarton at what was becoming the business end of the season.
With three consecutive away wins on the board, at Elgin City, Stenhousemuir and Forfar Athletic, it was all about getting the first home win for over a month against Berwick Rangers.
Dumbarton had won all three previous games against the Borderers in this season and as soon as Ross Forbes crashed in a free kick after 15 minutes, there was little doubt they would make it a clean sweep.
The day’s only downside came when talisman Derek Carcary was injured by a challenge from John Dillon which saw the visiting defender – who will feature again in this countdown many times – sent off.
The result, though, was made completely safe on 64 minutes when Pat Boyle rose highest in the area to stick Forbes’ corner in the net.
All roads led to Cowdenbeath the next Saturday for the top of the table clash.
Copyright Fullarton Photos 2003
87. Dumbarton 3-1 Cowdenbeath – Saturday, April 12, 2003
It was playing for Cowdenbeath as a trialist at Dumbarton that Emeka Obidile first came to our attention.
Five months after that day, he had a major say in the result which more or less condemned the Blue Brazil to the Third Division – and kept Sons in with a change of avoiding joining them.
After Paddy Flannery was nudged over in the penalty area on the half hour mark, he made no mistake from the spot.
And when John Dillon (we told you he’d feature again) doubled the lead before half time, things looked even more positive for a Sons side revived under Brian Fairley’s management.
Cowden were reduced to 10 men by Iain Mauchlen’s sending off but they didn’t give up and with five minutes to go, Kevin Gordon converted the second penalty of the day.
However, it was left to Obidile to clinch it with two minutes left, and the climb to safety took another giant step.
86. Dumbarton 3-1 Hamilton Accies – Saturday, February 8, 2003
This transpired to be the last game won by Dumbarton under David Winnie’s management.
They were behind at half time, with Gareth Armstrong putting Hamilton Accies in front four minutes before the interval.
But the goals kept going in at the same end of the stadium during the second half, and only five minutes after the restart Neil Scally had the equaliser.
On 61 minutes Sons were in front, as their captain for the day Neill Collins capped a fine individual performance with their second goal.
And with two minutes remaining, Gary McCutcheon got the goal that sealed victory – our first at home in over a month.
Winnie was in charge for another five games before leaving the club.