DUMBARTON 0 DUNFERMLINE 5 Date: 01/08/09

Fixture: Co-operative Insurance Cup

Attendance: 953, Kick Off: 3.00pm.

Referee: Chris Boyle

PICTURES
Dunfermline travelled to Dumbarton for the first time in competitive action since 9th March 1996. That day at Boghead Greg Shaw (2) and Andy Smith scored the goals in a 3-0 win. The Pars went on to win the First Division title and Dumbarton suffered relegation the following week at the hands of local rivals, Clydebank. A similar scenario this season with an another win at Dumbarton and First Division title would be just perfect for the Fifers.

Jim McIntyre was without Calum Woods (back), Andy Dowie (knee), Joe Cardle (foot) and Scott Muirhead (ill). From the side that started against Coventry City on Wednesday night Alex Burke came in for Graeme Holmes and Graham Bayne replaced Steven McDougall.  Neil McGregor made his debut as a Par at the centre of the defence.

Dumbarton kicked off but the Pars attacking the River Leven end forced a corner within the first minute.  Stephen Glass sent that into the six yard box at the near post but Steven Bell`s attempt went wide right.  Not so the next effort though.

With only 129 seconds on the clock Bayne turned the ball out to the right side from where Willie Gibson sent over a great ball that David GRAHAM sidefooted home from 8 yards.  A fantastic start for the Pars.

Graham had a surging run to leave Chisholm in his wake but his good diagonal ball slipped through the box before In seven minutes Bayne headed a Gibson free kick wide.

Two minutes later Glass found Graham on the left.  His cross was headed back across goal by Bayne and Andy KIRK finished it off to make it 2-0.  The Sons had a chance of their own in 14 minutes when Stevie Murray swept the ball over to the left where Derek Carcary met it as he ran in and Greg Fleming was in serious action to block the striker`s driven ball.

Kirk`s 16th minute shot into the base of the right post was turned behind for a Pars corner.  Bell came close to nodding it into a problem area but earned only another corner.

The sun came out as Dumbarton won their first corner but when that was sent in from the right Dunfermline broke with Gibson almost making the home side pay dearly.  Their defence was sufficient but right away another Gibson ball swung over from the left nearly gave Bayne an opener.

They were two behind but Dumbarton weren`t lying down and twice Neil McGregor had to show the qualities that had attracted Jim McIntyre`s attentions to deny the home side shots at Fleming.

In 28 minutes Bayne overhit his delivery from the right but on the other flank Graham returned a dangerous ball that eluded both Kirk and Bell as it skipped through the six yard box.

In 31 Kirk rifled a shot at goal from the edge of the box. The ball came back off the big centre back, Mike Dunlop to the Pars man and his ball left set up a great chance but Graham rocketed his shot wide from just ten yards.  The game wasn`t dirty but both Chisholm and McGregor picked up yellow cards before an unrelated injury saw left back Richard McKillen stretchered off.

Dunfermline looked like they could score at any time as another Gibson pass in from the right picked out Kirk.  He in turn slipped the ball left for Bayne but  McEwan parried and then fell on the ball to smother the chance.

In 39 minutes the sizeable Pars support to his left, urged David Graham to cut inside and line himself up for a pop at goal.  He followed instructions and was incredibly unlucky to see his 18 yard shot turned on to his right hand post by McEwan. Willie Gibson shot wide and before Chris Boyle blew up for the end of what had been a very impressive first half showing from Macca`s men, an Alex Burke 25 yard drive was deflected off Steven BELL to make it three.

Half time: Dumbarton 0 Dunfermline 3

The Pars were fast out of the traps after the break with Gordon taking down Bell on the edge of his box just 18 seconds into the second half.  Glass` effort from the free kick was driven down by Murray but DA continued to press with Gibson operating on the left creating danger. Burke had a drive beaten away while at the other end Fleming held as Dumbarton tried to strike on the counterattack.

In 51 minutes Bayne had a fresh air attempt letting Graham in to shoot but Chisholm sent that for a corner. Graham then did all the work in 56 minutes beating plenty of challenges to get to the left byeline to centre a low ball that Andy KIRK turned in at the near post.

Dunfermline increased Dumbarton`s pain scoring a fifth ten minutes later. Bell should have scored a minute before he did.  Kirk skied a ball into the centre of the home penalty box and David McEwan came out to take it but dropped his catch but BELL was just not correctly positioned to accept the chance.  He worried not because he scored with his next touch a header from a Steven McDougall return at a corner from the left.

The Sons day got worse as they were reduced to ten men for the final quarter. Iain Chisholm had been yellow carded for a trip on Graham in the first half and when he chopped down his man in 68 minutes Chris Boyle brandished a second yellow and he was off.

The result was in no doubt but the ten men had a couple of attempts for a consolation. Carcary chip over Fleming`s bar from 20 yards and Fleming came out sharpish to block substitute Roddy Hunter.  Ross O`Donoghue had a shot well held by Fleming while at the other end McDougall and Bayne both had good chances to extend the winning margin but both were off target.

A good performance and a good result.  The First Division side made their Second Division opponents look very slow and this should be a nice confidence boosting scoreline ahead of the start of the really serious stuff next Saturday.

DUMBARTON: David McEwan; Iain Chisholm, Richard McKillen (Andy Geggan 34), Ben Gordon, Mike Dunlop, Ross Clark (Scott Chaplain 62), Martin McNiff, Ross O`Donoghue, Denic McLauchlin, Derek Carcary, Stevie Murray (Roddy Hunter 62).
SUBS: Kieran Brannen, Michael White (GK).
YELLOW CARD: Chisholm (27), Gordon (46), Dunlop (84)

DUNFERMLINE: Greg Fleming; Greg Ross, Neil McGregor, Chris Higgins, Stephen Glass (c) (Austin McCann 69); David Graham, Steven Bell, Alex Burke (Graeme Holmes 69), Willie Gibson (Steven McDougall 62); Andy Kirk, Graham Bayne
SUBS: Nick Phinn, Greg Paterson (GK)
SCORERS: Graham (3), Kirk (9, 56), Bell (45+2, 66).
YELLOW CARD: McGregor (29), Bell (71).

WEATHER: Showery 18ºC

NEXT MATCH (home) IRN BRU First Division v Inverness Caley Thistle
Saturday 8th August 2009, kick off 3.00pm