Sunday 10th July 2016
GARRY FLEMING only needs to play in goal for Dumbarton before he’s done the lot.
Top scorer last season, he’s spent most of Sons’ pre-season campaign playing a holding midfield role.
But yesterday’s 2-1 defeat to Motherwell was almost worth the admission money for one sight alone.
It may never be repeated. For the final 26 minutes of the match, Garry partnered new signing Craig Pettigrew at centre half.
The change wasn’t made by choice. It was enforced after Frazer Wright and Gregor Buchanan, who started in central defence, both went off.
The switch wasn’t quite what many would expect for a player whose goals last season not only made him top scorer, but fans’ player of the year.
However, he insists he’s happy to undergo the changes that have been made in the close season.
He said: “Yesterday was the first time I’ve ever played centre half, but I enjoyed it.
“We’re currently short on players but the gaffer and his backroom staff are working hard to add to the squad. In the meantime I was happy to fill in.
“Wherever I get put on the pitch, I will always give 100 per cent.
“I don’t think I’ve ever played in goal but if it ever happens, I’ll put my name forward!
“I thought we controlled the first half yesterday after the first 10 minutes or so and deserved to be ahead at half time.
“We stayed on top until we lost the equaliser, and the second was sloppy from us. We couldn’t take our chances to equalise but overall we did OK.
“I think I’ll be starting the season in midfield. The manager has played a midfield three during pre-season and all the players there are used to it.
“But I’m not worried about losing my top goalscorer title! Although I’ll be playing a different position I’ll hopefully chip in a few goals.
“In saying that, I’m happy for Robert Thomson to continue his pre-season form and score as many goals as possible.”
Although Garry is Dumbarton’s longest-serving outfield player, he’s never played at Forfar, where Sons head to this Saturday for the Betfred Cup sectional opener.
He admits that the pressure will be on Sons, but is confident of a good result at a venue Sons last visited in February 2012.
He added: “It’s another new venue for me, and going new places is something I like doing.
“This is the start of the real stuff for us and it’s where we need to up our game. The players will be more than up for it.
“We’ll be going there as favourites and that will add a bit of pressure for us.
“But we’ll probably have a lot of the ball and it’s down to us to do something useful with it, and put in a good performance.
“Hopefully we can create chances and score goals.”
Andy Galloway