Damage in the Box!

DUMBARTON (Strathclyde Homes Stadium)

Sunday 26th July 2009

Alba Cup 1st Round

Dumbarton 0-1 Greenock Morton

Attendance: 1,122

A better game than Stenny yesterday, but not by much. At times in the second half it was getting worryingly close!! Morton won it with the only decent move of the match after 26 minutes, with Allan Jenkins firing the ball home from about 15 yards after a neat pass. Dumbarton is another new ground with only one stand, but it's a shame it's not facing the rock/castle then at least there would be something nice to look at when the football is this bad!

On a more serious note, today was not about the football but it was more a chance to pay tribute to Gordon Lennon, the man who who skippered Dumbarton to the title last season, who was tragically killed in a car accident in June.

http://www.thisisannouncements.co.uk/5883761

The Scottish Third Division Championship trophy. Proudly on display at Dumbarton.

View of the ground from the top of the castle.

Spot the hopper...and its NOT me, for the record!

STENHOUSEMUIR (Ochilview Park)

25th July 2009
Alba Challenge Cup 1st Round
Stenhousemuir v Clyde
Attendance: 603

In a game which struggled to rise above mediocre, two late goals sealed the win for Stenny. Craig O'Reilly scored after 75 minutes before Scott Dalziel settled it with a great strike in stoppage time. Clyde had the better of the possession and moved the ball around well, but the end product was sadly lacking. It took until the 61st minute before either keeper was truly tested, when a free kick was saved by home custodian Chris McClusky. At times the game was pretty tough to watch and I was losing the will to live (and fearing extra time) until Mr O'Reilly kindly intervened.

Must give credit though to the "Bully Wee" fans on the terrace behind the goal who brought a good following and were petty vocal throughout the game, despite their team losing (and the general dross that was the game).

SHAMROCK ROVERS (Tallaght Stadium)

Saturday 20th June 2009

League of Ireland

Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Galway United

Attendance: 2,900

The annual pilgrimage to Ireland this year took us back to Dublin and the district of Tallaght, where Shamrock Rovers were playing in their recently opened new stadium.

The hoops had led a nomadic existence since Glenmalure Park was sold off to a property developer in 1987, playing at Shelbourne, Bohemians, Royal Dublin Society, National Athletics Stadium and back to Shelbourne before finally getting the Tallaght Stadium built.

The ground, at this present time, consists of just the one large main stand and the capacity is around 6,000. The ground will be "officially" opened with a game against Real Madrid in a few weeks time.

As for the game tonight, well, frankly, it was dreadful. A Dessie Baker header after 52 minutes settled the game in the homesters favour. The did miss a penalty prior to that when Greg Cameron's effort was pushed onto the post by Galway's Barry Ryan.

Greg Cameron misses from the penalty spot

FULHAM (Craven Cottage)

Sunday 24th May 2009
FA Premier League
Fulham 0-2 Everton
Attendance: 25,497

The final league game of the campaign took the us to one of my favourite top flight grounds, Craven Cottage. The ground has everything going for it from the old stands, to the cottage in the corner, to its location on the banks of the River Thames.

If it wasn't for these factors then, from a results perspective, it would be an awful ground as Everton's record at the Cottage is appalling, having failed to win there since The Cottagers returned to the top flight. Indeed, since these fixtures were resumed in 2001 every meeting has resulted in a home win.

Today that sequence was finally broken as a Leon Osman brace secured the points for the blues. His first goal came on 43 minutes when he rounded Mark Schwarzer to slot home and his second was a superb curling shot from the edge of the box on 88 minutes.

This ensured a top five finish for Everton and sets us up nicely for the cup final at Wembley next weekend.