Sons mug Elgin and steal a crucial point

Aug 15 2008 by Laura McLachlan, Lennox Herald (main ed)

USUALLY it’s the ones in black and white stripes who commit robberies – but Elgin were the victims in those colours on Saturday as Dumbarton stole a point.

Raymond Logan headed the equaliser 15 minutes from time after Steven McKay had given the home side a first half lead.

But Sons will have to play much better than this if expectations for the season are going to be met.

Logan was the only player to get anything on target and Elgin were allowed too much time on the ball.

Teams who aspire to promotion shouldn’t just be winning games like this – they should be dictating them as well. Sons didn’t do either.

Manager Jim Chapman did not have his troubles to seek before kickoff with EIGHT first team players out injured.

Long-term victims Liam Cusack, Michael Dunlop and Michael Moore were joined on the sidelines by Craig Brittain, Mark Canning, Paul Keegan, Fergus Tiernan and Gary Wilson.

The boss’s resources were so stretched that teenager Andy Moore was on the bench and ex-Livingston youth Steven Weir played as a trialist.

And he had the first chance of the game on 18 minutes when he volleyed Stevie Murray’s cross just wide from the edge of the area.

Elgin, though, had forced a series of half chances and McKay then missed a sitter when he somehow shot wide from six yards in acres of space.

But he made up for it with the opening goal on 25 minutes when he blasted a 20-yard free kick in off the post.

Logan headed Murray’s cross wide 10 minutes from half time but Sons were toiling as Elgin dominated in midfield.

The second half saw Chapman’s men have a lot more possession, but chances were still hard to create.

Logan was unlucky on 54 minutes when his header beat the keeper but was cleared off the line by a defender.

However, his luck finally turned with 15 minutes remaining when he met Murray’s free kick eight yards out and glanced it home.

Elgin, though, were not finished and Jason Crooks had a late opportunity which keeper Dave McEwan turned wide.

Then in injury time Alan Lindsay really should have done better when he headed a cross from the left wildly over unmarked.

It is, of course, much too early to write off anything this season, but Chapman and his players had a lot to think about heading back down the A9.

Successful promotion bids start from the word go – not after a few weeks.

Dumbarton: McEwan; Geggan (Gourlay 66), O’Byrne, Lennon, Gordon, Clark, Weir (Gray 78), Logan, Chisholm, Carcary, Murray. Subs: McLaughlin, A Moore, McGeown.

Booked: Murray (65, foul), Logan (78, persistent fouling).

Referee: Chris Boyle

Crowd: 462

Rock Star points: 3pts Gordon, 2pts O’Byrne, 1pt Logan