Dumbarton

Dumbarton will this season celebrate the tenth anniversary of moving into their spectacularly sited Rock Stadium home, now, like many newer football grounds, known officially by a sponsored title. The ground sits at the foot of Dumbarton's most famous landmark The Rock, a twin peaked basaltic volcanic plug, that not surprisingly has housed a castle for many centuries. The guide book blurb says it is 557 steps to the highest point of Dumbarton Rock - I didn't count them but it certainly felt like a lot - the reward is some stunning views including the football ground.


The crowd control measures are perhaps a little excessive!


Spectator facilities are on one side of the ground only, so on a match day it is a little difficult to get a photo of the stand framed against The Rock, though in this shot taken from the railway station platform the top of one of the floodlight pylons can be seen dwarfed by its neighbour.


Today's visitors for another Scottish Challenge Cup tie are near neighbours from the opposite side of the River Clyde, Greenock Morton, so there is good support for both teams in a four figure crowd.


With Morton in Division One of the Scottish League and Dumbarton in Division Two, the visitors are favourites, and they set off at a fast pace, creating several chances in the first few minutes, though the outstanding moment of the first half sees Dumbarton goalkeeper Stephen Grindley make a superb save to deny Stewart Keen. The photo shows one of many first half Morton attacks as they play towards the River Leven end of the ground where their supporters buses are parked.


The view north from the ground looks up the Leven valley towards Ben Lomond.


The second half sees Morton continue to have the better of the play, though Dumbarton are not without chances of their own, but Stewart Keen misses a great chance to win it for the visitors in the last minute. Extra time once again, my third game in a row, and no change to the pattern of play, though this time Dumbarton come close to snatching a last gasp winner, Colin Stewart tipping over a header from substitute Paul Maxwell.

Quite how such an open goal failed to produce a goal in 120 minutes is surprising, but there can be no argument with the sponsors choice of the home keeper as man of the match. On to the penalty shoot out, and Ross Campbell hits the bar with the first kick for Dumbarton. The next seven kicks are all converted to leave Morton 4-3 ahead, so when Colin Stewart pushes away this kick from Ryan McStay, Morton are home and dry.


The result sends these Morton fans home happy, but the Dumbarton supporters also seem encouraged by their teams efforts against higher ranked opposition.