Day two: Dumbarton (Strathclyde Home Stadium)

Dumbarton vs. Greenock Morton
25th July 2010

Alba Challenge Cup First round

No rest for the wicked as we are off to our second game in 24 hours. This time we're off to watch Dumbarton host local rivals Greenock Morton in the South West match of the Alba Challenge Cup First round. We're really going for it this weekend, by the time we get home tonight we'll have clocked up 440 miles. Here's hoping we're treated to another belter of a game like yesterday's goal fest.

It seems as though my dad hasn't learnt any lessons from yesterdays early arrival at Peterhead as I summoned to Cramond at midday for the 64 mile journey to Dumbarton.

Our estimated time of arrival seems to dawn on my dad as he takes his foot of the accelerator just as we approach the Kingston Bridge in Glagow. It makes no difference as we arrive at Dumbarton's ground, the Strathclyde Homes Stadium. What a name for your home ground.

This game was originally scheduled for yesterday but amazingly it was pushed back because it was double booked with a wedding. Times must be hard when you postpone a local derby for a wedding.

With bags of time to spare I take a wee wander around the ground being sure to get a photo with Dumbarton Castle in the background of the ground for the album.

As the coach loads of fans pour in from Greenock we decide to head over to the ground at 2.30pm. As you can see from the photo above there is only the one stand at Dumbarton. The dug outs are on the other side of the pitch all on their own and it's a strange atmosphere inside the stadium as you can't actually see the away fans, you can hear them though.

The game kicks off.

Morton are on the attack straight away and a Stuart Keen header is saved by Stephen Grindlay in the home goal. Keen tries his luck moments later and forces the keeper to dive to his left to and turn the ball round for a corner and then he saves again from an Allan Jenkins effort. All this within the first two minutes. Promising signs for decent game.

Carlo Monti - what a great name - went close on seven minutes with a decent left foot volley from outside the box.

Dumbarton struggled to get into the game and it took them almost twenty minutes before they tested Colin Stewart. Scott Chamblain tried his luck from ten yards out but it was a comfortable save in the end.

Midway through the first half I heard one of the best heckles ever at a football match when a Dumbarton fan called out to one of the Morton defenders who was wearing bright red football boots - You're no in Kansas now Dorothy, this is fu*king Dumbarton. This was greeted with a mass chuckle not only from me and my dad, but by everyone in proximity.

Priceless so it was.

Keen again went close on the half hour mark with a right foot volley level that Grindlay did well to save, he couldn't hold it however and Peter Weatherson somehow managed to put the rebound wide of the post.

Dumbarton, although they now had more of the possession, couldn't find that final pass or bit of space in behind the defenders to test the away side and as the half drew to an end Keen had two or three more half chances to put his side level.

Half time.

Bring on the pie. It can't possibly be as bad as the one on sale at Peterhead. It wasn't, it was in fact 'a good-sized, crunchy-based meaty affair' according to my dad.

The second half went much the same way as the first with Morton having the better of the chances. Grindlay kept his side in the game on fifty minutes when he made a great flying save to tip a Keen header over the bar.

As time wore on it seemed like Dumbarton were the happier of the two sides and a change in formation suggested that the Dumbarton coach was playing for extra time and penalties.

It was on a rare break in to the opposition penalty box for Dumbarton with twenty minutes left and Scott Chaplain really should have scored with his left foot shot from only six yards out.

The Morton manager made a double substitution on with ten minutes left in the pursuit of the winning goal before full time. That's all his subs made now and there is still a potential forty minutes left, hope they don't get any injuries.

In the very last minute of normal time, when a cross was missed by all three Morton players within the six yard box and it drifted out for a goal kick.

Full time.

Both managers issue their instructions and the physios get to work on those players suffering from cramp and then the referee blows his whistle and we're off again.

We get only one shot on target in the first period of extra time and it's that man Keen yet again being denied by Grindlay in goal.

The second period isn't much better although Dumbarton do force Stewart into tipping a looping Paul Maxwell header over the bar.

The final whistle goes and it's the dreaded penalties.

With neither goal set in front of spectators both sets of players are spared any real attempts to put them off on their run up.

Dumbarton get off to the worst start when Ross Campbell smacks his penalty off the bar.

The next seven penalties are scored and it's left to Dumbarton's Ryan McStay to keep his side in it at 4-2 down. Unfortunately for him, his side and the home fans his effort is weak and easily saved by Stewart diving to his left.

The Morton players run to him as if he's saved the decisive kick in the Champions League final. The home players troop off dejected.

Overall, best team won.

The statistics:

Ticket price: £10 (£5 concessions - Dad)
Programme: £2
Attendance: 1301
Pie: £1.35
Pie marks: 7/10
Man of the match: Stephen Grindlay
Final score: 0-0 after extra time, Morton won 4-3 on penalties
Mileage: 128 miles
Fact of the day: Closest stadium to a castle (Dumbarton Castle)

Next ground: Stair Park - Stranraer (31st July)