Dumbarton 6 v 2 Stenhousemuir
Played at Strathclyde Homes, Dumbarton on Tuesday, 30th August 2011 at 19:30
Stirlingshire Cup
Match Report
Dumbarton v Stenhousemuir at Strathclyde Homes Stadium on 30.08.11
Stirlingshire Cup Semi-final
Dumbarton 6 [McBride 27,55, Winters 32, Walker 61, Wallace 68 Metcalfe 88], Stenhousemuir 2 [Plenderleith 25, Quinn 82 pen]
Stenhousemuir’s youngsters found the more experienced Dumbarton too hot to handle in this Stirlingshire Cup Semi-final.
Dumbarton should have taken the lead in the third minute of the game but Ross McKinnon, who had signed on loan from Motherwell that day, screwed his effort wide of the target. Stenhousemuir responded with a Paul Quinn attempt that beat Steven Grindlay but landed on the roof of the net. Dumbarton were unlucky not to take the lead when a Martin McBride free kick hit the post with Sean Diamond stranded.
Just after this Stenhousemuir had their best spell of the game but it still came as a shock when they took the lead in the 25th minute when Grant Plenderleith took full advantage of a Steven Grindlay blunder to trundle the ball into an empty net.
They were unable to hold on for long though as Dumbarton equalised in the 27th minute through Martin McBride. Diamond saved a dipping effort three minutes later from McBride but the home side took the lead in the 32nd minute when David Winters beat the offside trap and shot past Sean Diamond and into the net. That was effectively game over as Dumbarton threatened with almost every attack and they were not to extend their lead when Kieran Brannan and David Winters both saw efforts come off the woodwork before the end of the half.
In the second period they exerted their superiority on the game and McBride scored his second goal of the game after 55 minutes after Jordan Burns failed twice to clear his lines and McBride pounced to drill an effort home.
The experienced Pat Walker made an immediate impact after coming on as a sub scoring within a minute of being on the park just after the hour mark and then he became provider to set up Tony Wallace as Dumbarton went nap in the 68th minute.
The introduction of three subs for Stenhousemuir in Jamie O’Grady, Jordan McGuire and Scott Wilson brought a freshness to the side and O’Grady following a burst through the Dumbarton defence brought Grindlay into action to make a fine stop with ten minutes remaining.
Stenhousemuir scored a consolation goal in the 82nd minute when Paul Quinn converted from the penalty mark after Wilson had been pushed in the box, but it was the home side that had the final say when Ryan Metcalfe scored Dumbarton’s sixth and final goal in the 88th minute.
All in all this was a fair result as Dumbarton were by far the better team but that was to be expected as it was a case of men against boys. Every member of the starting eleven for Dumbarton being part of the first team pool whilst of the Stenhousemuir only Paul Quinn and Grant Plenderleith have any real experience at first team level and even that has been diluted this season.
Dumbarton – Grindlay, Lyden, McKinnon, Lithgow, McNiff, Brannan [Pearson 76], MBride [Walker 60], Wallace, Wintersm McLeish and Ramage [Metcalfe 60]. Subs not used – Connolly and Ewings
Stenhousemuir – Diamond, Hamilton, Lawson, Welsh, Nelson, Brash [Wilson 76], Plenderleith [McGuire 76], McCafferty, Quinn, Love and Burns [O’Grady 76]. Subs not used – C.Docherty and Shaw
Referee – Euan Anderson Assistants – Graham McNellie and Mark McLean
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