Ten great Scottish Cup shocks – without the big guns

CUP shocks. Heard about all the time. They’re part of the magic of the Scottish Cup.

When a team from a lower division dares to take on opposition more used to life at a higher level – and wins.

But there isn’t always the possibility of that after the teams from the top flight enter. At the early stages of the competition, there’s always the risk of being beaten by non-league opposition when you’re one or two steps away from mixing it with teams from the Premiership.

Even losing to a side from a lower division, especially if they’re one of your local rivals.

Here are 10 of the best Scottish Cup shocks of recent years to have taken place before the big guns enter. And with the tournament’s third round taking place this weekend, there’s every chance this list can be added to.

10. Elgin City 5 East Fife 1 (third round, season 2012/13)

Maybe some people could have foreseen the outcome of this match. But it wasn’t what Elgin City did; it was the way that they did it.

Stuart Leslie and Craig Gunn had the shock headlines being written by half time as the Borough Briggs club, one of the mainstays of the bottom division, convincingly led Second Division East Fife. But it wasn’t finished there, as a Daniel Moore penalty 10 minutes into the second half extended the lead further. Midway through the second half Mark Nicolson made it 4-0 and the fifth goal came via Paul Harkins shortly afterwards.

One report on this game claims that David Muir’s consolation goal gave East Fife “something to cheer.” It could hardly have been received with a whimper.

An extra trip to Ibrox to play Rangers was Elgin’s reward in round four. They lost 3-0.

9. Annan Athletic 1 Spartans 2 (second round, season 2008/09)

Four months before this tie, Spartans lost out to Annan Athletic in the battle for election to the Scottish Football League. It was inevitable they would meet in some capacity before long.

The new senior club were heading for further bragging rights after 10 minutes at their Galabank pitch when Kevin Neilson put them ahead. However, Spartans’ desire for revenge won it for them in the opening five minutes of the second half. Gavin Malin equalised three minutes after the restart and two minutes later, Gavin Archibald got the winner. Some would say it was a hollow victory as Annan had won the sides’ biggest duel over the close season, but it was revenge of sorts.

Spartans posted another 2-1 win against SFL opposition in round three, away to Elgin City. However, it was by that scoreline that they lost in round four, away to Airdrie.

8. Alloa Athletic 4 Raith Rovers 2 (third round, season 2010/11)

There’s been more than one occasion when the Scottish Cup has been a source of abject misery for Raith Rovers in recent years.

Dumbarton, from the league below, won at Stark’s Park in 2006/07. Queen’s Park, in a similar position, beat them at Hampden the previous year. However, this match could make a convincing case for being worse than either.

John Baird had First Division Rovers ahead against a Second Division Alloa side, who had been among the pre-season favourites for promotion but were faltering. Then, in the final four minutes of the first half, they lost the lead through a Kevin McDonald double and then had Willie Dyer sent off. Three minutes into the second half Stuart Noble got the third for Alloa and McDonald’s hat-trick clincher made a bad afternoon a horrendous one for Raith.

The Kirkcaldy side’s second goal, scored by their current manager Grant Murray, was hardly even as much as a consolation. Alloa lost 2-0 at Hamilton in round four, but despite their cup shock, were relegated at the end of the season. Raith were second in the First Division, 10 points behind champions Dunfermline.

7. Gala Fairydean 1 Stirling Albion 0 (second round, season 2001/02)

Stirling Albion were already having a poor season. Were it not for Alex Williams, it would have been an abysmal one.

Having been relegated into the Third Division, the Binos were expected to challenge for promotion but it wasn’t turning out that way. Winless in the league since September 8, they headed to Galashiels desperate for the win to kickstart their season. Despite their flatlining league season they were expected to win against the East of Scotland League outfit, especially with free-scoring Williams in their ranks.

But even this challenge was insurmountable for them, as a Paul Lindsay goal four minutes from half time was the only one of the game. In a campaign which was already evidently not going to work out, Stirling arguably had a new low.

They finished the season in ninth place, surely only spared the wooden spoon by the 17 league goals scored by Williams. Forfar succeeded where Stirling failed in round three, dispatching Gala 5-0.

6. Spartans 5 Alloa Athletic 3 (second round replay, season 2003/04)

Welcome back to Alloa, Tom Hendrie.

The maths teacher had barely been back at Recreation Park for a month when he was served notice of what a job he faced replacing Terry Christie. Scrapping for their lives at the bottom of the Second Division, the Wasps were hounded out of the Scottish Cup by non-league opposition.

After a 3-3 draw at Recreation Park, Alloa fell behind against the Edinburgh side courtesy of a Craig Valentine own goal, but the defender was bailed out by his colleague Jamie McGowan, who equalised. Despite the sending off of Ian Little a Scott Walker goal gave the Wasps the lead but goals in quick succession from Craig Manson and Keith McLeod put Spartans 3-2 ahead. That looked to be that until late in the day, when Brown Ferguson equalised to ensure another 3-3 tie and force extra time.

A cup shock still had Alloa’s name on it, though. Nine minutes into the added half hour, Kenny Hughes restored the lead for the home side, and two minutes into extra time’s second period, Ian Crawford sealed Spartans’ progress. After 210 minutes of football, which contained 14 goals, they were through.

Spartans progressed through the first ‘big gun round’ as well, winning 4-1 away to Arbroath. However, Livingston knocked them out in round four, beating them 4-0. Hendrie did what he was primarily brought to Alloa to do, and helped them avoid relegation.

5. Nairn County 3 Clyde 2 (second round replay, season 2012/13)

Leading 2-1 with 11 minutes to go, Clyde could have been forgiven for thinking they’d seen off Nairn County at the second time of asking.

And then it went horribly wrong.

The teams had already drawn 3-3 at Broadwood seven days earlier, with the home side having to equalise three times. Indeed, the goal that secured the replay came with only four minutes remaining. Therefore, they’d had some notice of what their opponents, at the top end of the Highland League but not threatening to win the title, could do.

This time, though, it was Nairn who fought back. Clyde led twice, with Stef McCluskey opening the scoring and, after the hosts’ equaliser by Conor Gethins, John Sweeney’s penalty restored the lead. In fact, even after John Cameron levelled for Nairn, the chance was there for Sweeney to win it with a second penalty. But his effort was saved and, with a minute remaining, Andrew Neill ensured that the northern side had the better of Clyde.

Similarly to this tie, Nairn drew 3-3 away from home against senior opposition in the third round, this time against Forfar. However, they lost the replay 3-2. They finished fifth in the Highland League while Clyde were the Scottish Football League’s second bottom team.

4. Albion Rovers 0 Sunnybank Juniors 1 (third round, season 2010/11)

Considering the shock value of this result, Sunnybank’s story since their victory at Cliftonhill seems almost extraordinary.

The northern junior side stunned Albion Rovers so much that Paul Martin offered his resignation as manager of the Coatbridge club. Nicky Gordon, who had worked a nightshift before the game, scored the only goal 10 minutes in and, even with a further 80 to play, Rovers’ fate was sealed. Martin’s offer to leave the club was not accepted by the board and, less than two years later, he won them promotion to the Second Division.

Incredibly, though, at the end of the season Sunnybank – who lost 5-0 at Ayr United in round three – were on the brink of taking a year out of junior football at the end of the same season. However, they continued into the 2011/12 campaign after a deal was agreed to use youth players from neighbouring junior side Banks o’ Dee.

They were relegated at the end of that season, and now play in the Northern First Division (East) of the SJFA setup.

3. Irvine Meadow XI 1 Arbroath 0 (third round, season 2009/10)

The question was asked as soon as junior teams were allowed into the senior Scottish Cup in 2007.

Who would be the first SFL team to lose to junior opposition in the competition? In the first season with the new setup, Montrose were in danger of that, drawing 2-2 with Pollok at home before winning the replay at Newlandsfield. The next year, Ayr United were held to a 1-1 draw away to Lochee United, but prevailed on their own patch.

Instead, the tag was handed to Arbroath, whose trek to Meadow Park in Ayrshire was a hazard from the word go. Enduring a battle at the bottom end of the Second Division, the Red Lichties were visiting a side littered with senior experience and junior trophies. Nine minutes from half time, those who sensed a shock were proven to be on the money, as Richie Barr put the home side ahead. It was the only goal of the game and Irvine Meadow, West Region champions the previous season, were on the map. So were Arbroath, but not for reasons they would want.

Meadow’s reward was a fourth round away day at Hibernian, but they lost 3-0. Arbroath were relegated to the Third Division.

2. Forfar Athletic 1 Montrose 5 (second round, season 2004/05)

As managerial exits go, this was something special.

Ray Stewart went into this game on a tightrope as Forfar’s gaffer. His team started the season with a real statement – five straight victories including a 5-2 win at St Mirren in the League Cup. But going into this tie, they had lost seven of their last eight fixtures. There was, though, the chance of motivation to kickstart their season by establishing local bragging rights against Montrose. After all, they were at home to their local rivals from the division below who, despite a recent three-match unbeaten run, weren’t threatening to go up ahead of rampant Gretna and Peterhead.

However, the more you listened to the goals going in during this match, the more incredible it got. By the midway point of the first half, Montrose led 2-0 with goals by Kevin Webster and Craig Smart. With 10 minutes of the second half having elapsed, that lead had been doubled, courtesy of two further goals by Graeme Sharp. After 70 minutes, Forfar were 5-0 down at home to their local rivals, courtesy of Kerr Dodds. Paul Tosh’s late goal for Forfar was utterly academic.

Not surprisingly, Stewart departed from Station Park in the following days, with Brian Fairley joining from Dumbarton and steadying the ship, avoiding relegation. Montrose, in a Third Division where the promotion race was only ever about two teams, were fifth – 32 points behind runners-up Peterhead. They lost their third round tie 2-1 at home to Queen of the South.

1. Buckie Thistle 2 Hamilton Accies 0 (second round, season 2000/01)

Circumstances in the game these days dictate that this HAS to be number one.

One of these teams currently sits at the very top of Scotland’s senior leagues, surpassing expectations and raising eyebrows with every game (well, maybe apart from Saturday). The other languishes in mid-table in the Highland League. Yet on Saturday, January 6, 2001, the Premiership’s current pacesetters Hamilton Accies were blasted out of the Scottish Cup by northern non-league outfit Buckie Thistle.

Even then, Hamilton were flying high in their league. Having been relegated the previous season as a result of a 15-point deduction, they were well on course to win the Third Division title under the management of Ally Dawson. They travelled to Victoria Park having not lost a league match since September 16, away to Cowdenbeath. With guys like Allan Russell, Michael Moore and David McFarlane in their side, they were tipped to easily advance against Highland League opposition.

But they came unstuck in their first fixture of the New Year. Former Rangers player Levi Stephen opened the scoring before a 30-yard effort by Craig Stewart sealed a famous victory for Buckie. It didn’t do Hamilton’s league challenge too much damage and indeed, they lost only twice over the rest of the season on their way to the Third Division title. Buckie, who lost 2-1 at Ross County in round three, finished third in the Highland League.

The title success was the start of Accies’ journey to their current imperious position. However, one afternoon in northeast Scotland just spoiled it slightly.

Dumbarton 0 Rangers 3

OH well.

Another chance for Dumbarton to show why they are at this level, by taking points off the household names of the Championship, passes them by.

For the second week in a row, Sons went out and battled hard only to be punished by a clinical side. Three Scotland internationals, Kenny Miller, Lee Wallace and Kris Boyd, put them to the sword.

The effort was there from Sons. Every inch of it. They didn’t stand back and admire the opposition; they knew the game was a mission to win three points, and not a sightseeing trip.

But once again, the cutting edge upfront wasn’t there. For the sixth time in 11 league games, Dumbarton failed to find the net themselves.

Chances came. They weren’t taken. In this sort of fixture, whenever opportunities come your way, they have to go. A lesson handed down to Sons more than once this season already.

This sort of thing shouldn’t be getting said of this Sons squad – not with the players in it. However, evidence of their undoubted ability to find the net, which was regularly on show last season, has yet to consistently surface in this.

This, along with the at times logic-defying performance of referee Andrew Dallas made for a thoroughly frustrating and disappointing afternoon.

Dallas, son of former top whistler Hugh, had a nightmare. Quite apart from awarding Rangers a penalty which looked soft at best – and was saved by Danny Rogers from Lee McCulloch – his inconsistency and the bookings he gave Garry Fleming and David Van Zanten added up to a horror show.

But the officials aren’t responsible for putting the ball in the net. That task falls to Sons alone, and is one that must be put right.

After Nicky Law missed an early chance for Rangers, Rogers slipped as Miller sent over a cross from the left. It looked as if it might bend towards goal but just missed the far post.

Then, midway through the second half, a cast-iron chance for the home side. Mark Gilhaney charged down McCulloch’s clearance and looked to play in Colin Nish for a simple finish. However, the ball evaded the striker and was cleared.

Chances like that have to go – no ifs, no buts.

Especially with what happened in the minutes that followed. After 25 minutes Wallace went down in the area under Van Zanten’s challenge, with Dallas pointing to the spot only for Rogers to deny McCulloch.

Did that mean it was Sons’ day? After a further 120 seconds the answer was an emphatic no. A cross from the left confused the Sons defence and Miller had a simple finish at the back post.

The equaliser was there for Sons before half time. Gilhaney had a shot saved, Nish headed over.

Soon after, Fleming picked up a yellow card for a nothing challenge while Van Zanten was similarly punished after a definitive 50/50 battle with Steven Smith.

The game was still up in the air as the second half began, but five minutes after the restart Miller looked as if he had set up Boyd to seal it. Instead, Rogers made a fine close range save from the striker.

Soon after, Andy Graham had a header from Scott Agnew’s corner which looked on target before it hit a defender. Rangers broke upfield and Rogers was again on form to deny Miller.

There were further opportunities for Sons, with the busy Mitch Megginson shooting over before his next effort rolled through to the keeper.

An equaliser could also have come on the hour mark. Instead, it was the moment that made it 2-0 to Rangers.

Nish couldn’t connect with a high ball into the area and the visitors cleared the loose ball. Boyd set up Wallace to apply a low finish and end the match as a contest.

Twelve minutes later, with Dumbarton finished, Boyd made it three, heading home Smith’s cross from the left.

All that remained of the afternoon were two more fine saves from Rogers. He turned away Lewis MacLeod’s low 25-yard shot, and then kept out a long distance free kick from McCulloch.

In the end, there was no getting away from the fact that the visitors deserved their win. But the chances were there for Dumbarton to deny them it.

The lack of goals has to end. Not just against the top sides in the division, against all opposition.

Maybe it’ll end next week, with Rangers back at the Rock in a Scottish Cup third round tie.

Maybe.

Dumbarton: Rogers; Van Zanten (Campbell 67), Linton, Graham, Mair, Gilhaney, Agnew, Nish, Megginson (Turner 78), Kirkpatrick (MacDonald 35), Fleming. Subs: Ewings; McLaughlin, McDougall. Booked: Fleming, Van Zanten.

Rangers: Simonsen; Smith (Templeton 75), Aird, Wallace, McCulloch, Law, MacLeod, Boyd (Daly 81), Miller (Clark 84), Foster, McGregor. Subs: Robinson; Faure, Hutton, Shiels.

Referee: Andrew Dallas.

Crowd: 1,850.

Scott on the small screen

SCOTT Agnew won’t be fazed by the presence of dozens of cameras at the Rock tomorrow.

Because he’ll already have been a star of the national media earlier in the day.

The Dumbarton midfielder is set to feature on Soccer AM, Sky TV’s football magazine show, on Saturday morning.

And he’s set to follow that by helping Sons take on Rangers in search of more vital league points.

Scott’s appearance on the small screen is as a result of his work with Street League, an organisation which helps young people get involved with football and into employment.

He was followed by TV cameras throughout last weekend – including Sons’ 5-1 defeat to league leaders Hearts at Tynecastle.

But despite that result, Saturday is a day to relish for Scott, who played for Rangers as a youngster.

He said: “Street League has a partnership with Soccer AM and it was something they were interested in doing when I started work in May.

“They spent last Friday and Saturday with me and came to Tynecastle. I was a nervous wreck!

“But it went OK. I did interviews and was recorded doing a training session, and it was good to have them come along to Tynecastle. It was good fun.

“I haven’t got Sky Plus but I’m sure my family will get together to watch Soccer AM tomorrow.

“We work with 16 to 25-year-olds who are unemployed or out of education. They come along to one of our academies and play football for two hours a day.

“They also get help with CVs and application forms to try to help them find work.

“It was probably the coaching side of it that got me interested but it’s always good to help younger lads out.”

Despite being released by Rangers, Scott isn’t looking at tomorrow’s game as a chance to gain revenge.

All the focus is on getting the result and potentially lifting Sons higher up the Championship table.

The match is the first of two consecutive ones at home to the Ibrox club, with a Scottish Cup third round tie to follow at the Rock next week.

He added: “It’s a long time since I was at Rangers now. I’m just wanting to play well and we’re all looking forward to it.

“It’s another big game for us after the disappointing result last week, when we knew how hard it was going to be.

“On another day the Hearts match could have been closer. Andy Graham had a great effort in the first half which their keeper did really well to save.

“But I’m not taking anything away from Hearts. Even though 5-1 flattered them they were very good.

“Tomorrow, the key is to stop losing goals and try to build from there. As a team we will need to work hard all over the pitch.

“Chances don’t come along that often in these fixtures and it’s important that we take them when they do.

“It’s always difficult playing against the same team two weeks in a row but the cup draw is a good one for us. It’s great to be playing in these matches.”

Soccer AM: Sky One; Saturday, October 25; 10am to noon.

Hearts 5 Dumbarton 1

SO, in the aftermath of days like this, where are you going?

Do you sit and feel sorry for yourself in the wake of a heavy defeat? Realise that your next two games are against a team who have just scored a goal more than you’ve conceded? And give yourself as much of a chance as 90 per cent of Scotland does, i.e. very little?

Or does this go down as a one-off? Do you recognise that there are times when the scoreline doesn’t give a completely accurate reflection of the game? And come back, sleeves rolled up, ready for your next fixture knowing that it’s one you’re fully capable of winning?

That’s the crossroads Dumbarton are at after losing 5-1 to Hearts. But assuming things continue the way they have gone under Ian Murray’s management, the latter should be a no-brainer.

They lost to a better side – an excellent outfit who are top of the league on merit. There is no getting away from that and neither would Murray or his players contest otherwise.

But after goals by Osman Sow, Prince Buaben and Jason Holt put Hearts well clear, the easiest option would have been to fold. Instead Sons battled and competed, and pulled a deserved goal back through Garry Fleming.

The deficit could even have been reduced to a single goal after Mitch Megginson had a shot saved. In the end, the hosts went upfield and when Callum Paterson made it 4-1, that really was goodnight.

Billy King rounded off the scoring, mirroring the 5-1 scoreline for Hearts against Hibernian in the 2012 Scottish Cup final, which the home fans taunted Murray over.

It’s not very often that any team can leave the pitch after a 5-1 victory rightly feeling they haven’t done much wrong. Sons could.

They weren’t perfect. Some of the goals were down to mistakes and cheap concessions of possession. And the ongoing issue of cutting edge only appearing in glimpses upfront was again in evidence.

But this will certainly not be the worst performance this season by a visiting side at Tynecastle – home of the major pacesetters in this season’s Championship.

And there was plenty to take into the league and cup double header at home to Rangers. Many reasons why, although they’ll be fancied by very few outside G82, G83 or G84, they can bounce back.

Hearts, from the start, showed why they’ve only dropped two points so far – in the 0-0 draw at Dumbarton in September. Sons defender Scott Taggart firstly made a great tackle to deny Sow, and then cleared King’s header off the line.

Sow also narrowly missed the target with a low drive on 21 minutes, but the goal he had threatened was on the scoresheet just five minutes later.

Paterson sent over a striker’s dream cross, which the Swede headed behind Danny Rogers from six yards.

That actually sent Sons into attack. A Colin Nish volley was blocked by a defender at close range, and then Neil Alexander turned Andy Graham’s shot wide.

But six minutes from half time the hosts were two ahead. Linton’s mistimed challenge on King resulted in a clear cut penalty.

Remarkably, similarly to events across Edinburgh seven days previously, Rogers got to the penalty only for the ball to spin behind him. This time Buaben’s shot was powerful enough to find the net.

Only a miraculous save by Rogers, from Soufian El Hassnaoui at close range, denied Hearts a third right on half time.

It meant Sons still had something resembling a chance going into the second half, and the early signs after the restart were promising as Nish forced a save from the home keeper.

Then Mark Gilhaney went down under a challenge from Adam Eckersley, but the referee showed no interest in what looked a reasonable appeal.

However, after Sam Nicholson cut into the area only for his shot to smash off the bar, Hearts extended their lead on 55 minutes as Holt, only on as a sub for Sow at half time, found the net with a low angled shot.

Still the white flag wasn’t being hoisted by Sons, for whom Jordan Kirkpatrick’s bending shot just missed the target. Shortly afterwards, King had an effort which ended the same way.

But with 18 minutes left, Fleming gave Sons some sort of lifeline, slotting the ball away from Nish’s header across goal.

Kieran MacDonald then had a shot saved, and then came Megginson’s effort from distance which was also kept out. No, it wasn’t going to happen…surely it wasn’t?

No, it wasn’t. Hearts forced a corner from the resulting break and, with seven minutes to go, Paterson headed home the set piece.

And with two minutes remaining, King cut into the area and drilled home a shot for the same score as Murray’s boyhood heroes Hibs suffered to Hearts at Hampden two years ago.

The scoreline was already tough on Sons. It nearly got ridiculous in injury time when Holt went for goal again, but was denied by Rogers.

The better side won. No-one could possibly deny it. But on another day, with a few breaks, Sons’ opportunities may have had a better outcome.

Maybe next week.

If they want to put themselves on a stage to bounce back, they’ve got it.

Hearts: Alexander; Paterson, Ozturk, Gomis, El Hassnaoui, Nicholson (Walker 76), King, Buaben (Pallardo 68), Sow (Holt 46), McGhee, Eckersley. Subs: Hamilton; McHattie, McKay, Buchanan.

Dumbarton: Rogers; Van Zanten, Linton, Graham, Gilhaney, Agnew (MacDonald 63), Nish (Campbell 73), Megginson, Kirkpatrick (McDougall 78), Taggart, Fleming. Subs: Ewings; Mair, McLaughlin. Booked: Nish, Fleming.

Referee: John McKendrick.

Crowd: 15,522.

When Budgie came to Dumbarton

THINK about it this way. In 1997, Kasey Keller was the League Cup-winning goalkeeper in England, with Leicester City.

It’s 17 years since he and his teammates were experiencing the festivities that came with lifting the silverware in front of tens of thousands of fans. Now just imagine it for talking’s sake – this Saturday, the USA international is turning out as a trialist for a lower league Scottish club. The crowd amounts to a very small percentage of the one that saw him win the trophy, the weather is wet and miserable and the surroundings…ain’t what he grew used to over his long career.

Keller, of course, has now retired from playing. But if that theoretical journey sounds strange, John Burridge would plead differently. It’s exactly the one he took. Twenty years ago today, he was turning out for Dumbarton against Stenhousemuir on a dull day at Boghead Park in front of a few hundred diehards. Seventeen years since nearly 55,000 people saw him and his Aston Villa team-mates beat Everton 3-2 in the League Cup final, which was being replayed for the second time, at Old Trafford. After attempts to win it at Wembley (0-0) and Hillsborough (1-1) failed, Burridge achieved arguably his greatest honour in the game at the third time of asking.

By the time he came to Dumbarton as a trialist in October 1994, Burridge, known to many as ‘Budgie’ was already the stereotypical journeyman of football. The typical version of a player who’d had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus. Aged 42, he made Sons the 16th team he had played first-team football for when he turned out against Stenny. Although most of his club football was played in England – taking in more than 100 league games for both Blackpool and Sheffield United – it wasn’t his first experience of Scottish football. The previous season, he played three league matches for Aberdeen, including a 1-1 draw against Rangers at Ibrox with the hosts going for their seventh straight league title. For two campaigns before that, he had been largely first-choice goalkeeper at Hibernian.

It is most likely to have been there that his time at Dumbarton came into the making. One of his team-mates at Easter Road was Murdo MacLeod, with the two playing together as Hibs beat Dunfermline 2-0 in the 1991 League Cup final. MacLeod became Sons’ player/manager in 1993, with Ian MacFarlane having long made the starting gloves his own at Boghead Park. However, an opportunity arose the following year, having started when MacFarlane was injured in a Challenge Cup tie at home to St Johnstone. He returned the following week, at home to Clyde, and also played the next two league games, but with teenager Peter Dennison the only other keeper on the books, MacLeod may have been looking for experience. Here was where Burridge, a free agent, came in.

Ultimately, Budgie’s stay at Boghead was to prove winless. The match against Stenhousemuir was lost 2-1 with a late free kick winning it for the Warriors. With news quickly spreading of his appearance, the TV cameras were at Dumbarton the next week for Queen of the South’s visit. They didn’t have much to film in a goalless draw which really was summed up by the scoreline. A 1-0 defeat to Morton at Cappielow completed Burridge’s three trial matches with Dumbarton, and he and MacLeod had a decision to make. Both seemed keen for the keeper to play more matches in the Diadora-sponsored shirt, but by the time Stirling Albion rolled up at Boghead the following Saturday, no deal had been done.

And MacFarlane took his chance to regain the number one jersey on a permanent basis. After Colin McKinnon had scored the opener for Sons against the Binos, the keeper saved a second half penalty. Not only did that ensure the three points, it also restored MacFarlane’s place as the club’s number one, a position he was not to relinquish for the rest of the season. Budgie, despite conceding only three goals (one of them an own goal) during his stay at Dumbarton, had to take flight again.

Not that his gloves were about to be hung up. By the time the season was out, he had also played for Falkirk and Manchester City. During his stay with the English Premier League club, he became the oldest player to play in the division, aged 43 years, four months and 26 days. He is credited with first-team appearances at both Darlington and Queen of the South after that, as well as non-playing stints at many other clubs, before his journey in football ended as player/manager of Blyth Spartans in 1997. These days, he works as a TV pundit overseas. At 62, his Twitter bio reads: “I should still be playing.”

MacFarlane, with total justification, is remembered as Dumbarton’s first choice keeper during Forthbank season. But for 270 minutes of football, an icon of the game in the UK did his bit.

Full details of John Burridge’s three games for Dumbarton will feature in the next two editions of Sons View, the club’s matchday magazine.

Hibernian 0 Dumbarton 0

A FEW millimetres of chalk was all that made the difference.

Was it over the line? Dominique Malonga’s 41st-minute penalty for Hibs, which in itself divided opinion?

After the striker, adjudged to have been fouled by Andy Graham, swung his boot, Danny Rogers saved. But the ball spun loose.

The Dumbarton keeper clutched it back, but was it too late to stop it crossing the line? Thousands would say yes. Other thousands would say no. Assistant referee Ralph Gordon, six yards away, was in the latter camp.

It was a massive decision, one which Hibs will point to as the moment that cost them two points. But there were other telling moments.

Rogers, not back 48 hours from his international under-21 debut with the Republic of Ireland in Norway, was almost infallible, producing some inspired saves.

Although the hosts had most of the chances, and a goal disallowed, Sons weren’t totally devoid of attacking action, with Colin Nish at the centre of their efforts at the home of his boyhood heroes.

The goals have yet to flow. However, at the start of a tough run of fixtures, this was a welcome result.

It was actually Sons who threatened first when David Van Zanten set up Jordan Kirkpatrick for an angled shot which was turned wide.

But after David Gray and Liam Fontaine missed the target for Hibs, Rogers’ A game was needed.

His save from Jason Cummings was routine, but his stop from Dylan McGeouch’s 25-yard shot, which saw him turn the ball over the bar, was something special.

On 28 minutes Nish got on the end of a long Scott Linton throw, but with the keeper scrambling, his backward header went narrowly wide.

Then, four minutes from half time, came the moment that got everybody talking through the rest of the afternoon. The award was 50/50, with Graham adjudged to have fouled Malonga as he shaped up to shoot. When he did go for goal, Rogers saved and the judges spoke.

Rogers was again on form before half time, denying Cummings after he ran on to a long ball.

The second half saw Hibs continue to dominate, but through long spells of frustration. Malonga was kept out by Rogers again while Cummings narrowly missed with a low shot from the edge of the area.

In between, Nish had a Bryan Prunty-style overhead effort from Garry Fleming’s cross, but was off target.

And after Rogers denied Liam Craig, there was more to come from Sons. Mark Gilhaney set up Nish, with the striker’s low shot rolling wide, before the keeper got to a long ball just ahead of Archie Campbell.

But there was another escape. Craig looked to have set up Paul Heffernan to tap home the opener from six yards, but the flag was up for offside.

And as the final minutes slipped by, Hibs became more frantic. Headers by Jordon Forster, and then Paul Hanlon, both from corners, were straight at Rogers.

But the last touch of the ball was made by the Sons keeper, and it was in fitting spectacular style. It was to turn Matthew Kennedy’s shot over.

With no time for a corner, that was it. For the second game against Edinburgh opposition in a row, the other team were frustrated by Sons.

What price a third, across the city against Hearts next week?

And what price another big break?

Hibernian: Oxley; Gray, Hanlon, Fontaine (Kennedy 58), Forster, Robertson, Craig (Allan 76), Stevenson, McGeouch, Malonga (Heffernan 68), Cummings. Subs: Perntreou; Stanton, Handling, Booth. Booked: Malonga, Cummings, Robertson.

Dumbarton: Rogers; Van Zanten, Linton, Graham, Gilhaney, Agnew (McLaughlin 90), Nish, Megginson (MacDonald 71), Kirkpatrick, Taggart, Fleming (Campbell 76). Subs: Ewings; Mair, Murray, McDougall. Booked: Agnew, Graham, Gilhaney, Linton.

Referee: Barry Cook.

Crowd: 7,923.

Time to finish revenge mission

SCOTT Taggart has started exacting revenge on Hibernian.

Now he intends to finish it.

The defender thought he’d got his own back on the Easter Road club for his release when Dumbarton led 2-0 in August’s League Cup second round tie.

But joy turned to frustration as an evening kick-off caught up with Sons, who went down to a 3-2 defeat.

As thoughts turn to Saturday’s return visit to Easter Road, on league business, the defender, released by Hibs in 2012, has no fear.

Especially not as part of a defence which has conceded only twice in the last five fixtures.

And having come within a few minutes of beating Hibs earlier this season, Scott and his team-mates are confident they can finish the job this time.

The 22-year-old, man of the match in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Cowdenbeath, said: “Easter Road is a great place to go and these are the games we look forward to in this league.

“There should be a good crowd and hopefully we’ll bring a decent number of fans through. They supported us very well the last time.

“We know we are capable of playing well there, and scoring goals. Hopefully this time, if we get ourselves in front, we can hold out.

“We have had some good results in the league recently and we’re going there to try to keep our record going.

“It’s always nice to go back to where I started in football, and hopefully we can pick up the three points.”

Saturday’s game is the start of a run of league fixtures which sees Sons line up against the three high-profile teams in the league. They are back in Edinburgh next Saturday to visit Hearts, while Rangers come to the Rock a week later.

The Govan side are then back in G82 for a Scottish Cup third round tie, a match which Scott will miss through suspension, having been sent off in Morton’s 4-0 defeat at Inverness CT in last season’s competition.

However, there’s nothing stopping him playing in the coming run of league fixtures, and it’s one the close season signing from Morton can’t wait to get started.

His man of the match award marked the latest in a series of impressive performances as he and skipper Andy Graham make the centre half positions their own.

Scott added: “I was a right back in my first season at Morton, while in my second I was used at rightback and central midfield. I can play several positions.

“People won’t be expecting us to get anything out of these fixtures but we will go and hopefully surprise a few people.

“The Cowdenbeath match could have gone either way on Saturday. We weren’t at our greatest but we’ll take the point and a clean sheet.

“We’re very happy with how we’ve played defensively. One of the two goals we’ve conceded was a wonder strike in the last minute which was only a consolation (by Stephen Simmons for Alloa in a 3-1 win for Sons).

“But it isn’t just about the back four – we defend well as a team, and long may that continue.”

Dumbarton 0 Cowdenbeath 0

A SEASON like this one in the Scottish Championship is bound to throw up games to remember.

Matches which, whether a supporter or a neutral, you relish, savour and enjoy and feel privileged to say ‘I was there’.

But not this one.

If anyone’s memory has any mercy, this dull, scrappy, goalless spectacle between Dumbarton and Cowdenbeath will have been erased as soon as possible.

This fixture had the same scoreline as when Sons played Hearts three weeks before. Unfortunately that’s where the similarity ends.

Where there was drama, intensity and excitement against the Jambos, this rumbled along in a blaze of mediocrity for 90 per cent of the afternoon.

Cowdenbeath’s previous visit to G82 saw them sent up the road having conceded five goals. This time they kept a clean sheet fairly comfortably and created the opportunities for an even better result.

However, there were positives for the hosts to take. The defence kept up its impressive form with its third league clean sheet of the season – already surpassing the 2013/14 total.

So that’s one end of the pitch sorted. Now for Dumbarton to address the other.

With the players Sons have, they should not be struggling for goals. Yet here we are, one game short of finishing the league season’s first quarter, and only Chris Kane – absent through injury for the second match in a row – has scored more than once in the Championship.

The ability, unquestionably, is there. And at times, the break of the ball just hasn’t gone Dumbarton’s way in threatening areas.

But chances, when they came, were not put away. If Cowden had not been wasteful upfront then this could have ended with a more undesirable scoreline.

It was Sons, though, who made the better start. Garry Fleming found space 30 yards out, but his shot was saved.

Then referee Greg Aitken, who sent three Peterhead players off at Dunfermline last week, had an early decision to make when Archie Campbell went down in the area under a challenge from his namesake Iain. However, the official wasn’t interested.

The visitors were quick to make an impression themselves, with Danny Rogers saving from Kudus Oyenuga and then Kyle Miller.

Another Fleming effort from long range was spilled by the keeper, with Mark Gilhaney denied from the rebound at close range.

The rest of the first half plodded along before a great opportunity for Cowden three minutes from half time. Chris Kane – a Cowden player by the same name as Sons’ talisman – met a corner from the right but headed wide at the near post.

In the early second half, Oyenuga blasted over for Cowden while Jon Robertson’s long distance effort was beaten out by Rogers, with Sons scrambling clear.

Between those incidents, Fleming set up Jordan Kirkpatrick but his low, narrow angled shot was saved. Then the midfielder had similar luck with another effort, this time after being set up by Mitch Megginson.

After Rogers pushed an effort by Miller over the bar, Archie Campbell looked as though he was in for Sons, but the keeper blocked at close range to put the ball out for a corner.

All that was left was a Miller header which missed the target, and a Craig Sutherland shot which was saved by Rogers. Oyenuga found the net with the rebound but was flagged offside.

This game deserved to end 0-0. It was the second part of a double header which saw Sons face both of their fellow part-time Championship sides. The hope was for six points, but four isn’t bad.

Now for Hibs and Hearts away, and then Rangers at home. It would be nice to think that at least one of those games will be one to relish and remember. Sons have the ability to make it as such.

If those games are going to be better than this, they haven’t much to live up to.

Dumbarton: Rogers; Van Zanten (MacDonald 78), Linton, Graham, Gilhaney, Agnew (McDougall 86), Megginson, Kirkpatrick (Nish 64), Taggart, Fleming, Campbell. Subs: Ewings; Mair, McLaughlin. Booked: Fleming.

Cowdenbeath: Thomson; Campbell, O’Brien, Robertson, Higgins (Sutherland 86), Gallagher, Kane, Brownlie, Oyenuga, Miller, Fraser. Subs: Flynn; Brett, Jurisic, Johnston, Hughes, Scullion.

Referee: Greg Aitken.

Crowd: 851.

Exciting times

IF two’s company and three’s a crowd, what does that make Ian Murray’s office on Saturday?

It’s more than two hours before Dumbarton kick off against Alloa, but the gaffer has a crowd of people with him who are already right in the zone.

As I knock and enter the room through the main door, he does likewise through the side entrance.

Also in attendance at that moment are assistant manager Guillaume Beuzelin and coach Mark Spalding, while goalkeeping coach Jim Gallacher is to join us during our 15-minute-or-so chat.

All five people in the room are raring to go, anxious to see if Sons can make it 13 games unbeaten against the Wasps and make it four matches in a row without defeat against any opposition.

But after 14 years playing for Hibs, Rangers, Norwich City and Scotland, and managing Dumbarton, you learn not to let nerves show before any fixture.

And that’s the last thing Ian is about to do. Relaxing in his leather chair, back to his desk, he ponders his match-by-match assessment of life with Sons so far in season 2014/15.

The longer the season has gone on, the better the picture. Results say so, and the manager feels the same.

He said: “We’ve done OK but the first few results were tough. I felt we were unfortunate in the league opener against Raith Rovers and didn’t deserve to lose.

“Against Queen of the South at home we had no complaints while away to Rangers we were beaten by a better side. Then we were excellent away to Hibs and had it been played on a Saturday we would have won.

“Livingston at home was a match that could have gone either way but we showed no signs of fatigue after a tough week.

“Then we followed it up with a great point at home to Hearts, and then the draw at Falkirk. It could be better but we’re happy enough.”

At the time of our conversation, attention is on the vital home double header, firstly against Alloa and then Cowdenbeath.

Then comes a fixture schedule some Sons fans may have thought they’d never see. Hibs away, Hearts away, Rangers at home.

To many onlookers, the first two games may not seem as big a draw as the other three. But if you’re Dumbarton, chasing points to stay in the Championship, every game is equal.

Ian continued: “Six points is not vitally important from the home double header, but it is important to remain undefeated and win at least one.

“We’ve done exceptionally well against part-time opposition during my time as manager but it’s a different league this time around with different players.

“Our target is to come out of the first quarter of the league season with 10 points. If we do that we’ll be quite happy considering we haven’t played particularly well.

“Going away to Hibernian on league business will be great and we have nothing to fear. Hearts will be looking for revenge after dropping points here and they will probably still be top of the league when we go there.

“Against Rangers at home, we have to manage the occasion more than the game because it will bring a lot of attention on to us and the town. The Hearts game did that and we coped very well.

“They are all tough games in what is a very unpredictable league. No-one would have said that Hearts’ only dropped points so far would be against us, and no-one would be predicting that the winner of our game against Alloa will be pushing for a play-off place at this early stage.”

Despite that run of fixtures, barring any last minute changes of heart by national broadcasters, Sons are set to wait until at least December to be live on TV.

Even their games against Hearts, Rangers and Hibs have flown under the radar so far.

There has been some national media attention on Sons – but not in the best of terms, with Hearts’ Adam Eckersley accusing them of time-wasting in the recent 0-0 draw.

The defender also claimed that Dumbarton celebrated like they’d won the Champions League – but his comments almost escaped Ian’s attention.

He said: “I genuinely don’t read the papers. The only reason I saw it was that my mum pointed it out to me!

“Our players will have read it as well. We were happy at taking a point off Hearts but certainly didn’t over-celebrate.

“We are not in this league to please Hearts, or Adam Eckersley. We’re here to get points on the board as quickly as we can.

“Hearts, and their director of football Craig Levein, recognised that we gave them a tough game.

“Not being live on TV suits us. In terms of playing staff, it keeps our routine similar and we try to use these things to our advantage.

“It’s nice to see part-time teams pick up points against full-time opposition and we are well aware of what they can do in those fixtures.”

Before the Alloa match, Dumbarton have also been able to celebrate on-loan keeper Danny Rogers’ call-up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad.

The goalie, borrowed from Aberdeen, has been one of quite a few new faces at the Rock, with the ranks added to as the season has gone on.

And Ian’s views on how they have performed so far are unanimously positive.

He said: “Danny has done great. It’s been a hard start for him because of the goals conceded and because he only trains with us once a week.

“He’s doing a lot of travelling to play for us and he’s playing with guys he doesn’t really know, but his performances have been very good.

“His international call-up is good recognition for himself and the club – much like Paul McGinn’s move to Dundee.

“We were disappointed to lose Paul but it was good for him to get the chance. It gives us a platform to build on and it’s the same in Danny’s case.

“It’s not a case of him coming into the Championship and being forgotten about. He’s being recognised.

“The under-21 game is on the Thursday in Norway and we’re playing Hibs on the Saturday, so hopefully we get him back in time for that.

“Kieran MacDonald was a player we tried to sign during the close season, but he went to Hamilton. He has found his game time limited but I’m sure he will feature more for us.

“David Van Zanten has done fine at right back, creating a partnership with Scott Taggart, who has also been excellent and deserves his run in the team.

“Lee Mair has not really started but he’s a talented player with plenty of experience and Archie Campbell has been a decent signing.”

And then there’s Chris Kane.

The man whose departure back to St Johnstone, at the end of his loan spell, was thought by some to be a reason for Sons’ struggle at the start of the campaign.

Now he’s back, and has already scored two telling late goals, against Livingston and Falkirk.

He’s also now got James McFadden to contend with in the pecking order at Perth – so does that mean an extension to his latest loan spell?

The gaffer continued: “It’s hard for me to judge Chris because I only see him at our level. It’s up to Tommy Wright whether he gets a chance at St Johnstone – it’s his team and his players.

“But we were thankful when Chris became available. There’s no doubt he’ll be a fantastic goalscorer whatever level he gets to.

“Maybe he needs another few months on loan – and maybe we’ll see him back again after January.”

It’s not just been in terms of playing personnel where there have been changes at Dumbarton in recent months.

Tried and trusted assistant Jack Ross, Ian’s ally since he arrived at the Rock, departed in the close season for Hearts.

That led to the appointments of the two men in the room with us – Beuzelin as assistant and Spalding as coach.

There’s a sharp intake of breath from the latter of those as the question is asked about the transition from one assistant to another, with an added coach.

However, Ian said: “There was a very smooth takeover. Jack had a week’s notice when Guillaume came in and that enabled him to come in for a few days before he started.

“Like anything else, you build up a relationship with people over time and Jack was here with me for two years.

“But it’s been exciting working with the new staff. We’re getting more organised and Guillaume now sees the players twice a week, which he couldn’t do at first.

“He knows the way they like to play and we’re getting the benefits of that.

“Mark came in to help and has been another good addition. He has experience with Falkirk for a couple of years and will be an asset here.

“They are a couple of safe pairs of hands who I know I can rely on.”

And with that, it’s off to prepare for Alloa.

A 3-1 win. Another step in the right direction.

All the anticipation, and preparation, was worth it.