 Dumbarton went out of the Alba Challenge Cup 3-4 on penalties to Morton. SF.net's Man of the Match, Dumbarton keeper Stephen Grindlay was unable to replicate his fantastic exploits during the regulation 90 minutes in the sudden-death finale. In the shoot-out Dumbarton’s first and fifth men were the guilty parties - Ross Campbell blasting off the bar and Ryan McStay seeing his effort saved by Colin Stewart.Played in bright sunlight but a strong wind the game had it share of goal-mouth incident without ever reaching classic status. Grindlay was to make several decent saves - including one fanatic reaction save to a rebounded shot off of the back of one of his defenders. At the other end Colin Stewart saved the day for Morton in the last minute of extra time tipping a Paul Maxwell header over the bar. Throughout the game the full-time Morton men looked better individually and more dangerous collectively but the killer touch eluded them time and again in front of goal or found Dumbarton keeper Grindlay in fine form. In the 15th minute Michael Tidser was on the end of a fine move started down the wing by Kevin McKinley which then saw Graeme Holmes set up the shot which Grindlay saved. Shortly thereafter Morton regain possession and Tidser was through on goal (albeit under pressure from two defenders) and he chose to pick his spot with a strongly struck side footed shot which the Sons keeper saved. Derek Carcary and Ross Campbell impressed up front for the Sons with Carcary’s moves down the wing causing Morton problems all day. The second half was far more entertaining than the first - ex-Celt Stewart Keane’s header at the right-hand post being saved by Grindlay in the 54th minute before Campbell’s turn and shot at the other end of the pitch was the result of a fine sweeping move. Carcary and Campbell combined well throughout with the best example coming in the 80th minute when Campbell’s turn and shot was again saved after Carcary had drove upfield and supplied the cut-back. Extra-time did not see Morton take advantage of the visibly wilting Sons. Indeed Geggan and Campbell both had great chances - Campbell with six minutes to go powered in a shot from 20 yards which the Morton keeper stopped but could not hold. And so to penalties. The first shot of sudden death saw Dumbarton’s Ross Campbell’s fierce shot cannon off the bar. Each Morton player firmly slotted their chances before their keeper saved Dumbarton’s fifth when Ryan McStay opted to try and place his shot into the right-hand corner. SCORING CAMPBELL - Dumbarton - missed - 0-0 HOLMES - Morton - scored - 0-1 COOK - Dumbarton - scored - 1-1 TIDSER - Morton - scored - 1-2 McNIFF - Dumbarton - scored - 2-2 O’BRIEN - Morton - scored - 2-3 GEGGAN - Dumbarton - scored 3-3 KELBIE - Morton - scored 3-4 McSTAY - Morton - saved 3-4 Dumbarton: Grindley, Nugent, McManus, Gordon, McNiff, McStay, Geggan, Carcary (Cook 101), Chaplain (Maxwell 97), Wilson (Brannan 85), Campbell Subs Not Used: White, Chisholm Booked: Nugent, McStay, Gordon Morton: Stewart, MacGregor, Smyth, Evans, McKinlay, Holmes, Jenkins (Bachirou 83), Tidser, Monti (O'Brien 68), Weatherson (Kelbie 83), Kean Subs Not Used: Cuthbert, Shepherd Booked: Tidser Attendance: 1,301 Referee: Stephen Finny |
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