Thugs .....1 Fans ......0

Oct 24 2008 by Andy Galloway, Lennox Herald

DUMBARTON moved closer to topping the table on Saturday with a fine win over Montrose – but supporters’ celebrations were cut short when their bus was attacked by vandals.

Teenage yobs fired missiles at the bus as it pulled out of the town’s Wellington Street following Sons’ 2-1 win at Links Park.

Fans, who should have been celebrating the victory, instead watched as the teeny thugs broke a window near the back of the bus.

Dumbarton man Robert Ryan was sitting next to the window that was broken.

He said: “It was a double glazed window so it was the outside pane that was smashed. Basically there was one sheet of glass between me and a brick.

“I was reading my paper so I never saw who it was. I just heard the thud beside me and instinctively pulled my jacket over my head.

“I don’t get to many away games, but I was meeting friends from the north east at the game.

“It’s unusual for this to happen because there’s normally a good spirit between the fans of lower league clubs.”

Robert insists he will think twice about travelling to a Montrose match again.

He said: “I would rather know that there was some increased policing or stewarding around the ground first.”

The Sons Supporters Trust, which organised the bus, has already contacted local police and Montrose FC.

Trust secretary Alan Findlay said: “Wanton hooliganism by local youths spoiled the day for everyone. It was a dreadful incident and a frightening one too.

“It will make supporters think very carefully about returning to Links Park in the future, which would be a great shame.”

And a statement on the trust’s website added: “The trust board would like to apologise to members and fans who travelled to the game on the bus.

“The experience of having hooligans vandalise the coach was not a pleasant one for all involved, especially those sitting next to the affected window.

“The trust, with the help of Dumbarton FC, has already communicated our collective disappointment about the incident to Montrose FC.

“We would like to assure our members that we will be doing so in the strongest possible terms.”

A spokesman for Montrose said: “What has happened is shocking and has never been known to happen at Links Park before.

“The club refuses to condone this sort of behaviour and it will surely be discussed at our next board meeting.

“We can only apologise to the Dumbarton fans concerned.”

Sons’ victory, through goals by Ross Clark and Paul McLeod, put them within two points of third division leaders Stenhousemuir.

They and the fans are due to visit Montrose again on Saturday, March 14.