Penalty heartbreak for Annan at Dumbarton

Aug 8 2008 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

ANNAN were left with tears for souvenirs as ten-man Dumbarton came from behind in extra-time to snatch this Co-operative Insurance Cup, first round game on penalty kicks.

It was a personal heartbreak for Athletic’s Alan Inglis who saw his penalty – Annan’s fifth – saved by Sons’ keeper David McEwan leaving Stephen Murray to roll home the winning spot kick.

Athletic came under pressure from the start and when David Calder failed to collect an early cross Ray Logan drove his shot against the upright although Calder recovered to block Alan Gourlay’s follow-up effort.

The keeper was soon called into action again with a fine save at the feet of the in-rushing Logan.

Gradually Annan settled and they forced three corners in quick succession and from the first of these there were decent shouts for a penalty when Stuart Hill’s header appeared to strike a home defender on the hand.

It was a very open game and Calder produced the save of the half, flying high to his right to turn behind a Derek Carcary thirty-yarder.

Play rushed to the other end and Steve Archibald found himself in space but his low shot was held by McEwan at the second attempt.

Half-time: 0-0.

Inglis had a lucky let-off within a minute of the restart when he bundled Sons’ striker Paul Keegan over in the box but referee Gary Hilland waved away the claims to the anger of the home fans.

Archibald was booked for a foul after 52 minutes but it was his last involvement as he was replaced by Ryan Adamson. Darren Johnstone really should have put the visitors ahead shortly afterwards when he latched onto a long ball from midfield but his drive found only the side netting.

It was a pulsating game with both sets of supporters on the edges of their seats. Dumbarton passed up a glorious opportunity to win the tie in normal time when a corner fell to substitute Fergus Tiernan inside the six-yard box but he turned a fired the ball high into the darkening night sky.

As time ticked away, Lee Hoolickin had a couple of efforts from distance but neither troubled McEwan.

Ninety minutes: 0-0.

The extra period almost opened with a bang for Annan. Jack’s corner found the head of Kevin Neilson but his powerful header was just wide of the target. In keeping with the exciting nature of things, Logan promptly did the same thing at the other end.

The deadlock was finally broken on the verge of the turnaround, and what drama we had.

Dumbarton’s Andy Geggan clumsily brought down Steve Sloan inside the box and although there was little doubt about the spot-kick award, the full-back continued to air his grievances to Mr Hillard to the extent that he received a double booking and was already up the tunnel before Saturday’s two-goal hero Jack swept the penalty low into the corner.

Half-time, extra-time: 0-1.

There was little sign of Dumbarton’s numerical disadvantage as they pressed for an equaliser with Annan always dangerous on the break. But five minutes from the end Athletic finally cracked.

A cross from the left somehow found its way through to the back post and the in-rushing Logan netted with a low flying header.

Full time: 1-1.

Penalties was a cruel way for this game between two evenly-matched teams to be decided but so it was to be.

Kicking first, Chris Jardine, Johnstone, Grant Parker and Adamson all netted for Annan with Dumbarton replying in kind on each occasion before Inglis’ miss proved fatal.

But Harry Cairney’s side can hold their heads high and the Dumbarton supporters were full of praise for the visitors at the end.

Teams

Dumbarton: McEwan, Geggan, Brittain (Lennon, 109), O’Byrne, Gordon, Clark, Gourlay (Tiernan, 58), Logan, Keegan (Chisholm, 82), Carcary, Murray.

Not Used: Gray, McGeowan (GK).

Annan Athletic: Calder, Brown, Inglis, Hill, Neilson, Jack (Parker, 108), Sloan, Jardine, Archibald (Adamson, 52), Johnstone, Hoolickin (Watson, 106).

Not used: Grainger, Summersgill (GK).

Referee: Gary Hilland.

Attendance: 462