Raith Rovers – 20 years on

SOON to be declared the UK’s number one single, a newly-released record encouraged listeners: “Let me be your fantasy.”

Enough pop music fans were taken in by Baby D’s words to get her to the top of the charts by 7pm that Sunday evening. But earlier on the day, thousands upon thousands of Fifers woke up with the chance of experiencing something else which would be pure fantasy. On the brink of witnessing or, in a minority of cases, taking part in a triumph that was put past them by so many. Despite being impressive enough over the course of the season so far, this was felt by the majority of onlookers to be a bridge too far. But while the odds were stacked against them, hope was important. Hope that, for just one final tie in the cup competition, they could get themselves over the line.

It was this spirit that Raith Rovers were to cling to for much of the afternoon of Sunday, November 27, 1994. So far in the campaign, they’d put themselves firmly in the race for promotion to the Scottish Premier Division, having been newly-relegated from the top flight six months earlier. Apart from a four-match winless run, taking in defeats to fellow chasers St Johnstone and Dunfermline Athletic (their second loss to the Pars of the season), they’d been steady enough.

But it was their League Cup run which generated the most excitement. To be fair, the old saying that you need a bit of luck to progress in the cup was true for Raith. Of the four sides they had previously faced in the 1994/95 competition, only one was from a higher division. The first tie saw Scottish Football League newcomers Ross County dispatched 5-0 with ease in Dingwall. Then came the Premier Division challenge of Kilmarnock, with home advantage, in round three. The occasion was one where a Kirkcaldy lad who was not yet 22 really shone, as Colin Cameron posted all three goals in a 3-2 victory.

Fellow First Division side St Johnstone were next in the last eight, at McDiarmid Park. First half goals by Shaun Dennis and Ally Graham had Raith looking comfortable, but an early second half John O’Neill goal was the start of an onslaught by the Perth club. Despite hitting the woodwork twice, the hosts failed to equalise and a late third goal by Danny Lennon meant that Raith were in the last four. Alongside Aberdeen and Celtic, First Division outfit Airdrie were also in the semi-final line-up and, with all due respect to the Diamonds, they would have been the team the Kirkcaldy side wanted to face. Raith got their wish, returning to McDiarmid Park, which this time was a neutral venue, to play Airdrie. After Graham opened the scoring in the first half, Steve Cooper equalised for the Diamonds and with no further scoring, even during an extra half hour, it was down to penalties. Raith scored all of their first five kicks, while Airdrie also found the net with their first four before Alan Lawrence stepped up. He was facing a teenage goalkeeper in Brian Potter, who had to replace the sent-off Scott Thomson with 20 minutes left of the first 90. The youngster saved. Raith Rovers, who less than a decade earlier were at their lowest ebb, were in the League Cup final.

And so it was on to Sunday, November 27. A weekend when Raith should have been at home to St Mirren, who, in contrast to the Premiership status they enjoy now, were battling against the drop to the Second Division. Instead the Kirkcaldy men had a cup final to face. Standing in their way were Celtic. Courtesy of a Brian O’Neil goal in extra time, the Glasgow club were now one game away from lifting their first major honour since the 1989 Scottish Cup. As the Hoops were playing home fixtures at Hampden due to Parkhead’s redevelopment, the game would take place at Ibrox Stadium.

While Raith were acknowledged to have done very well to reach the final this, in the eyes of many observers, was where it was to end. To quote the late darts commentator Sid Waddell, they weren’t just the underdog, they were the underpuppy. The TV cameras, the paparazzi, the international media – they all descended on Kirkcaldy in what became a media circus right up until the final hours before cup final day. However, it was very thinly-veiled that Celtic were many people’s favourites to triumph and their wait for a trophy was expected to end without the need for extra time or any of that malarkey.

The line-ups before the game gave some indication of why. Five full Scotland internationalists were part of their starting XI. Charlie Nicholas and Paul McStay had already played in the World Cup for their country while Tom Boyd and John Collins were currently key parts of Craig Brown’s national side which was striving to qualify for Euro 96. However, the Hoops were going into the match in the middle of not only a dearth of domestic honours, but also goals. In their previous seven league outings they had only found the net three times – two of those occasions coming in the same match, both courtesy of Collins in a 2-2 draw with Dundee United.

Raith’s only internationalist on the day may have scored a famous goal against Brazil, but Dave Narey’s last cap had come some six years previously. At 38, his career was in its twilight years, having already taken in many domestic honours with Dundee United. However, there was determination for him to add to that collection. And if it was a barrier to have played at the highest level some time ago, it didn’t stop Gordon Dalziel. The veteran striker had managed more goals on his own in his previous two matches before the final than Celtic had managed in their last seven, with a hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Stranraer followed by a single in a 3-0 victory at Clydebank. Those games had been preceded by a 3-0 victory over Hamilton Accies, a game where Dalziel also scored. As a team, Raith were in the zone going into the final.

The hours to the final ticked by, with Raith having stayed the previous night in an Erskine hotel, where the team line-up was announced. As hours turned to minutes, more than 10,000 fans filtered into the Govan Stand – right opposite the players’ tunnel. It was a support which stunned the watching media and, for players who usually played to two or three thousand, it may have appeared daunting. But enough had been done in the build-up to ensure that Jimmy Nicholl’s players were not daunted or overawed. At least until referee Jim McCluskey announced that it was time to take the field for kick-off. And once Charlie Nicholas touched the ball to Andy Walker, it was game on. Rovers’ time had come.

Within a minute, Steve Crawford was fouled by Tony Mowbray as he looked to run in on goal, with the Celtic defender escaping even a booking. The free kick came to nothing, but a statement had already been made, one which Celtic would have to live with for at least another 89 minutes. As the game went on, the deadlock remained in place, but the Hoops, for all their superior experience on paper, knew they were in a game.

A game which, after 19 minutes, saw Raith lead. Julian Broddle’s corner found Crawford in the area. Quickly the Celtic defence moved to close the forward down, with Mark McNally in closest attendance. However, the shot found its way towards goal, outwith the reach of keeper Gordon Marshall and suddenly, the engraver was thinking of the whereabouts of his letter ‘R’. Raith Rovers were in control. It was a position that was not undeserved in the slightest.

Celtic, naturally, fought back, but their opponents were containing them, until the 32nd minute. Tom Boyd’s cross was headed back across goal by Mike Galloway for Andy Walker to blast into the net. Although it was a setback from the euphoria of earlier, the half time interval arrived with the score still 1-1 and everyone of a Raith persuasion was quite happy.

And then there was the second half. Chances came for both sides. Chances went for both sides. But still there were no further goals. Until six minutes from full time. Walker’s shot from the edge of the area looked set to give him his second of the match before coming back off the post. Unfortunately for Raith, the ball fell perfectly for Charlie Nicholas to drive into the net. The kind of break that wins cups. The kind that looked to have won the cup for Celtic and made Raith Rovers glorious failures. Except they were about to get such a break themselves.

With two minutes remaining, Jason Dair cut inside and sent in a shot which Gordon Marshall could only parry. A striker of Gordon Dalziel’s experience knew fine well that efforts like those have to be followed in. Just in case. The opportunity was snapped up and the ‘glorious failures’ of four minutes earlier were back in a position of some power. It ensured that the minutes which had looked like being devoted to Celtic’s trophy presentation would instead be spent playing an extra half hour. Those 30 minutes, despite another helping of blood and thunder football for the nerve-exhausted hordes of fans, saw the ball fail to hit the net again. After seven hours of football in the League Cup, Raith Rovers’ fate would be decided on penalties.

Shaun Dennis scored. So did Willie Falconer for Celtic. Jason Dair’s successful penalty was cancelled out by John Collins, while Andy Walker did likewise after Colin Cameron scored. After three penalties, each side had a 100 per cent success rate. When Steve Crawford and Paul Byrne also found the net, effectively the shoot-out was in sudden death. Stephen McAnespie’s conversion meant that if Mike Galloway failed to match his finish, the cup was on its way to Kirkcaldy. Galloway, though, put his kick away and at least another penalty for each side lay ahead. Responsibility for Raith’s sixth effort lay with Jason Rowbotham, who was denied a place in the starting line-up earlier in the day. He scored. It was over to Paul McStay. The veteran midfielder put his kick to Scott Thomson’s right hand side.

The hand of the goalkeeper who was sent off in the semi-final did the rest. Raith Rovers had won.

Twenty years have passed since that day. It is somewhat galling to think that the 10-year anniversary was marked with the club in one of its most dire spells of recent years, which eventually saw it relegated to the Second Division. However, even that can’t ruin the memories of Ibrox Stadium two decades down the line. And these are memories which will no doubt last for many more decades to come.

Although…be honest, did anyone remember that Baby D was number one?

Sources for this article:

‘Unthinkable’ by Steven Lawther, published 2014, Pitch Publishing (a must-buy for any Raith fan who hasn’t yet done so)

The Tartan Special Scottish Football League Review season 1995/96

Sons View matchday programme for Dumbarton v Berwick Rangers, Saturday, November 12, 1994, and Dumbarton v Brechin City, Saturday, December 3, 1994.

Stadium meeting

“THE board of Dumbarton FC will have the final decision on any stadium move.”

Chairman Allan Jardine’s words to the best part of 100 Dumbarton fans on Wednesday night as they gathered to hear more about the club’s proposed stadium move.

Those gathered at the Sons Supporters Trust’s general meeting also heard from the club supremo over the reasons for the plans to move to a 4,000 capacity stadium at Young’s Farm.

And Mr Jardine revealed that if all the right boxes are ticked by the potential move, a cash windfall could be the result.

Speaking to the fans as part of a five-strong panel at the meeting, the chairman outlined the reasons for the club’s consideration for the move.

Also present at the top table were chief executive Gilbert Lawrie, trust chairman Brian Payne, trust communications officer Simon Barrow and planning consultant Roddy MacLeod.

Mr Jardine was completely clear that a decision on whether the stadium move will go ahead will be taken by the club board – and not by owners Brabco 736.

He said: “This is the first stage of a long journey and there is a long way to go.

“The board have met several times to discuss whether this is for the good of Dumbarton FC. We believe it is, as Brabco get a return on their investment, which they are due, and Dumbarton get a new stadium.

“And they will have a significant amount of money in the bank, certainly for the first time in my memory.

“To turn the key in our current stadium, and keep it running, is costing £75,000 to £100,000 a year, and it will get worse before it gets better.

“People ask why get bigger when the ground is only half full. Alloa and Cowdenbeath will make £180,000 more than Dumbarton will this season because of the games they have.

“It’s not about the size of the stadium – it’s about the facilities. We need more than season ticket money and gate money and right now we don’t have more than that.

“The board are all local, all Dumbarton fans, and want to do what is right for the club.

“I want to be able to leave the club, when the time comes, saying that we have a new stadium and a full-time team holding its own in the Championship. But right now, we are looking backwards instead of forwards.”

As well as the stadium, the plans for the site also include football pitches for community use, and other outlets to be used for retail or office space, or similar developments.

Concerns had been expressed among fans about how these proposals could be afforded, but Mr Lawrie insisted that it comes at no financial risk to Sons.

He said: “We will not be able to gauge the value of the site until will move from the current site. The last thing the board wanted to do was leave the town for two years while the stadium was being built.

“There is no risk whatsoever to Dumbarton FC – it will not be spending a penny. Phase one will only take place on the back of everything being put in place. We have a signed agreement in place on the price with Chivas, who own the land.”

Mr Jardine also gave the supporters some background into how the club came into its current ownership.

He said: “I was concerned about what Neil (Rankine, former Sons chairman) was going to do. I knew he was going to sell the club and it was important, from my and the board’s point of view, that he was to sell it to the right people.

“They weren’t queuing up to buy the club, but I knew he was courting some people from the Republic of Ireland who were ‘property developers’ with no link to Dumbarton.

“My view was that if they took over, they would fire the board, run the club themselves and run it into the ground. We would stay in the Third Division until we didn’t pay tax and couldn’t afford to pay a fine.

“At the time, Calum Hosie was also on the board and I asked him if he knew any people who would be interested in getting involved. Calum is from Knoxland Square and I knew getting him on board would be better than people we didn’t know.

“Calum spent the next six months courting people and Brabco 736 was instated as a company that could buy Neil Rankine’s shares.

“We would ask people to understand that Brabco are not bogeymen. They were the deal at the time and they are still the deal.

“I have met four of the six people involved in Brabco. Prior to the 2008 financial collapse, they felt that they saw and opportunity to put their money up and buy Neil’s shares, and let us run the club.”

Mr MacLeod showed the crowd that the next stage of the proposals will come in January, when an LDP examination will take place and a planning application will be lodged.

Planning consent and detailed designs are pencilled in for August 2015, while late next year will see the costing and valuation, and the development appraisal.

Site marketing is scheduled for 2016, with the new development starting in 2017 and relocation taking place in 2018.

Ian Murray – 10 big moments

SEVEN hundred and twenty nine days later, Ian Murray could be 24 hours away from another fairytale chapter.

Sometimes it is funny how the football fixture calendar works itself. Things like a manager’s two-year anniversary at a club being marked by a match against the side he played for with such distinction. That’s what’s happening at the Rock tomorrow as Murray, who enjoys legendary status as a player at Hibernian, manages Dumbarton against the Easter Road side, two years to the day he was unveiled as boss.

As with all managerial tenures, those two years have seen players, matches and experiences which live long in the memory. Some of them are turning points when things are going wrong, others are just…well…special. Here’s a dossier of 10 points which have shaped his first two years with Sons.

1. Falkirk 3 Dumbarton 4 – Saturday, December 29 2012

Murray must have spent his first 180 match minutes as Dumbarton manager wondering what he’d let himself in for. The opening 90 were observed from the stand at East End Park as his new team were beaten 4-0 by Dunfermline Athletic. In some respects it was a harsh experience for Sons, but in reality the scoreline, in the days before the Pars were hit by financial troubles, was a realistic reflection of the game. Then, following three postponements, his first fixture in the dugout was a chastening one at home to Hamilton Accies in the Scottish Cup fourth round. On a freezing Monday night, Sons were well beaten 3-1, by a side they had already led by the same scoreline in September before frittering away their two-goal advantage in the dying stages to draw 3-3.

It was that experience, and other unfortunate ones under the previous regime at the start of this season, that led to nerves being very suitably frayed towards the end of Murray’s third game in charge, at Falkirk. Having lost to the Bairns once already – 2-0 in the game that sealed Alan Adamson’s fate and ensured Murray had a job to apply for – Sons were holding them 1-1 at half time, Jim Lister having levelled. Then a glorious 12-minute spell was the first evidence of a new manager bounce at the club. A Scott Agnew double (one a penalty) and Lister’s second had them coasting. Going into injury time it was still 4-1, and then Lyle Taylor, who had scored the Bairns’ goal, added two more for his hat-trick.

But where Hamilton Accies succeeded on league business back in September, Falkirk failed. Despite a close call to make it 4-4, which really would have been a sobering one to take, Dumbarton held on for only their second victory of the season.

2. Craig Gordon comes to the club – Saturday, February 9 2013

Sons have found many ways of making coaching/managerial appointments. Indeed, Murray’s arrival came about as one of them, with him having been based in America prior to being appointed. But it’s hard to imagine anyone joining the club as a result of a chance encounter in a TV studio.

That was the scenario which led to the events building up to a second consecutive meeting with Livingston. Travelling to Almondvale, the talk among fans on social media was that Craig Gordon – THE Craig Gordon – had been spotted as part of Dumbarton’s coaching staff. Only a few years after he kept goal for Scotland and Sunderland, and still reasonably young, here he was putting Stephen Grindlay, Jamie Ewings and Josh Lumsden through their paces. It turned out that Murray’s appointment came about after the two were guests on BBC Scotland’s televised football coverage. There was even talk that Gordon, battling back after years of persistent injuries, could play for Sons, but that never came to pass. Now, when you realise that Gordon is Celtic’s first choice keeper, in truth he was never likely to don the number one jersey.

Sons were on a winning run, and off the bottom of the First Division having beaten both of the title-chasing duo of Morton and Partick Thistle. However, this was an appointment that gave the club, and particularly its goalkeepers, time in the spotlight. It turned out not to be the only blue-chip moment of the day, with Bryan Prunty’s overhead kick opening the scoring in a 3-2 victory. But with Gordon now on board until the end of the season, Sons could justifiably feel they deserved their place in Scotland’s second tier.

3. Comebacks at Dunfermline and Raith – late March 2013

Murray was in the middle of his first tough run as Sons manager. Winless in five games, his team knew they had to end the run at Dunfermline on Saturday, March 23. By this point the Pars were engulfed in their financial turmoil and, although no points deduction had yet kicked in, their title challenge was fading through defeat after defeat.

But with less than an hour played at East End Park, where Murray’s tenure technically began, the ball looked burst. A late first half Ryan Wallace goal was followed up for Dunfermline soon after the restart by Andy Barrowman. Despite Steven McDougall pulling one back for Sons, Barrowman’s second meant a 3-1 deficit and the points looked to be gone. After all, November 1997 had been the last time Dumbarton had won from two goals down – at Queen’s Park. Then there was another dimension to them. Chris Turner pulled one back and, with a quarter of the game still to play, Scott Agnew made it 3-3. Playing against a team whose season was in freefall, Sons knew what a chance they had to end the wait of more than 15 years. And with six minutes left, McDougall posted his second to win it. Another positive aspect – namely bouncebackability – had been added by Murray.

Four nights later Dumbarton proved that comebacks from two goals down are like buses. Trailing 2-0 at home to Raith Rovers in a twice-postponed fixture, a Jim Lister goal at half time offered more than optimism following the events at Dunfermline. The faith was justified, as Lister got his second to equalise and after an Agnew penalty made it 3-2, the tall striker clinched his hat-trick. Earlier in the season one goal had been enough to kill Sons off most of the time. Now two-goal leads couldn’t do it.

4. Cowdenbeath 2 Dumbarton 3 – Saturday, April 27 2013

Even after the revival under Murray, the odds were that if Dumbarton survived, they would do so on the last day of the season. Quite possibly with the decisive goal going in during the final minutes, off a Partick Thistle player’s backside. Yet here they were, a week before the clash with the Jags to end the season, knowing that the mere avoidance of defeat at Cowdenbeath would clinch it with a game to spare. The Thistle game would be a glorified friendly.

Although Sons had won 1-0 at Central Park earlier in the season, two weeks before Murray’s appointment, Central Park had been an unforgiving venue for them in the past. That again looked likely when Cowden took an early lead through on-loan Motherwell striker Craig Moore. But just as at Falkirk, three piercing blows in a short spell did it for Sons. An astonishing 30-yard lob by Scott Agnew brought them level, and with Jim Lister putting them in front, the nine-minute turnaround was completed by Agnew’s penalty. A Kyle Miller goal for the hosts with two minutes to spare made the ending nervous, but was academic. Having started the season with two points from their opening 10 games, taking 40 out of the next 25 had guaranteed safety.

5. Paul McGinn signs permanently – Monday, June 3 2013

On loan for the second half of the 2012/13 season, Paul McGinn’s performances at right back made many people wonder what St Mirren didn’t see in him. Taken on by the Buddies after a successful time at Queen’s Park, the Clydebank youngster was sent out to gain first-team experience. What he did was put himself on a pedestal, endear himself to the Dumbarton fans, and leave them feeling that he was returning to Paisley a stick-on first-team player.

Then came the news that few thought possible – he was coming back, on a permanent basis. The decision wasn’t St Mirren’s, but McGinn’s, as he wanted to play first-team football and wasn’t guaranteed that at Greenhill Road. He asked to be released from his contract and in no time, Murray was on the phone, eager to have him back at the club, even if just for one season while he looked to prove the Saints wrong not to give him a game.

And he did. Like any manager, Murray’s signings for Dumbarton can be divided into hits and misses. Some work out, some don’t – that’s football. Recruiting McGinn was one of the best things he’s done as the right back, fans’ player of the year last season, made a mockery of any doubts over his ability to play regular first-team football at the highest level. Something which he is doing at Dundee, this time in the top flight, an arena it was thought he couldn’t thrive in right now. The Dens Park club’s 1-0 win in Paisley, in August, must have gone down particularly well with one member of their back four.

6. The start to 2014

The first half of the 2013/14 season was steady enough for Dumbarton. They were winning games fairly regularly, scoring goals at a decent rate, and very rarely looked like potential relegation material. But if there was one flaw, it was one which haunted them during the ‘worst team in Scotland’ season of 1997/98. During that campaign they failed to win back-to-back games at any stage. At the turn of the New Year, they had still to do that this time.

The first three fixtures of 2014 were a chance to end any doubt over their ability to stay up. Morton were drastically labouring at the bottom, while fellow part-timers Cowdenbeath and Alloa were in opposition, both away from home, immediately afterwards. Six or seven points wouldn’t have been bad. Nine would have been utopia. The run got off to a decent start as, despite a display which was far from the most convincing of the season, Morton were seen off with goals by Bryan Prunty (penalty) and the debuting Chris Kane. Despite their dire position, Morton had beaten Sons 2-0 at Cappielow when the sides last met, so it was not a day to take anything for granted.

At Cowden, a venue where they also lost the previous time, Sons were behind early on to a Kyle Miller goal, only for Colin Nish to almost immediately level. Despite a Mitch Megginson goal being equalised by Jamie Stevenson for the hosts, the second half saw Dumbarton turn it on. Kane’s second in as many games, followed by Megginson’s second, made it six from six. It was on to Alloa, a venue where Sons had never lost on the plastic pitch. That record was clearly continuing by half time, with Mark McLaughlin, Chris Turner and then Kane again establishing a 3-0 lead. Kevin Cawley’s goal for the Wasps might have triggered a comeback in the early 2012/13 season, but it was never in prospect this time. Kane’s second, and then a stunning volley by Jordan Kirkpatrick, registered a 5-1 victory and the nine ‘utopia’ points. Missions are never accomplished in January but Sons could hardly have been better on course.

7. Alloa Athletic 0 Dumbarton 1 – Saturday, February 8 2014

Just three weeks after the 5-1 league win at Recreation Park (now the Indodrill Stadium), Dumbarton were back there with a different objective. Up for grabs was the club’s first place in the Scottish Cup quarter finals since most of the squad, even Murray himself, were born. Thirty-five years since reaching the 1978/79 last eight, all they had to do to end that wait was beat a team they’d hung out to dry only 21 days earlier.

This, though, was a much closer affair, score-wise at least. A Colin Nish goal just after the half hour mark could have started another goal-fest, but just before half time came the perfect evidence that wouldn’t be the case. Kane, just as he did at Alloa in the 5-1 game, had the chance to score from the penalty spot, but saw his effort saved. Despite having only a one-goal advantage, Sons were on top of the second half and Scott Linton was unlucky not to extend the lead with a shot which hit the crossbar. In the end, Nish’s goal was enough.

Unfortunately, the wait for a first semi-final since 1976 was extended, and will be for a further year following this season’s exit. Away at Aberdeen, Sons were valiant, but went down to the same 1-0 scoreline by which they beat Alloa. Having started in November in a rain-soaked 2-1 win over Cowdenbeath, the road to Parkhead, as it was last season, was over.

8. Dumbarton 4 Hamilton Accies 1 – Saturday, April 26 2014

The trapdoor had long been beaten, with a 3-1 win at Raith Rovers two weeks before this game ensuring that the Championship was as low a division as Dumbarton could play in during the 2014/15 season. Unfortunately, the following week’s 3-0 reverse at home to Queen of the South made a top four place, a real possibility for much of the campaign, look very distant.

They were three points behind the Dumfries club with two games to play. Both of those were against teams who could celebrate winning the title at the end of the day. Hamilton Accies turned up at the Rock knowing that a win, and the right combination of results elsewhere, would give them the Championship trophy. With part-time opposition standing in their way, they were strong favourites in many neutral observers’ eyes. But Dumbarton knew differently. In recent home games, Cowdenbeath (5-1) and Alloa (4-1) had suffered the full force of Sons’ forward line. Now it was time to show it could be done against higher-ranked opposition.

Nothing was to be chosen between the sides at half time. Scott Agnew’s free kick from wide on the right crept in at the far post only for Jason Scotland to equalise for Accies. By the 75th minute Dundee were clear at Alloa and it was obvious that Hamilton, whatever they did at the Rock, wouldn’t win the title on the day. And then a very large button marked ‘self destruct’ was pressed by the New Douglas Park club, particularly manager Alex Neil, who was sent off for headbutting Mark Gilhaney. By this point Colin Nish had given Sons the lead, and within a minute of Neil’s departure, Mitch Megginson made it 3-1. The final effort was added by Jordan Kirkpatrick as Sons humbled a side who, until the start of November, were leaders of the Premiership this season.

9. New deal – Tuesday, May 13 2014

Danny Lennon wasn’t kept on at St Mirren. Terry Butcher was hanging by a thread at Hibernian, who were facing a relegation play-off. Both of those meant that Murray, whose deal at Dumbarton was heading for its expiry, was thought to be a wanted man. Who could blame any club for taking him on, after what he’d achieved with a Sons side who were flatlining when he arrived? Who could blame him for wanting to try himself at a higher level, especially, potentially, with the Edinburgh club he supported as a boy and played for over such a long time?

But 10 days after the end of the season, the doubt was ended. With St Mirren hunting a new manager and, according to some sources, having made an approach, Murray’s signature was on a new two-year contract at Dumbarton. The boost to everyone at the club was immediate. Players re-signed, season tickets were renewed and a campaign already known to feature Rangers and Hearts next season was anticipated with relish.

As it turned out, Butcher’s tenure at Hibs was ended after they lost to Hamilton in the play-off and they too came down to face Sons. But the strength of the league this season was of little concern to Dumbarton fans as it kicked off. After the display at Aberdeen, and against other sides who were now in the top flight, there was no-one who could have been viewed as a better man to lead them into a campaign like no other.

10. Livingston 1 Dumbarton 2 – Saturday, November 15 2014

Yep, the most recent one. Some victories have been vital for Dumbarton with a view to challenging at the right end of the table. But sometimes they’re more crucial after the going gets tough. This was one such occasion.

Sons headed to Almondvale having scored one goal in six games. The strength of opposition WAS tough – Hibs, Hearts and Rangers twice all came within that spell. However, with the displays Sons showed last season, it was hoped that they would come out of that run with more than just Garry Fleming’s consolation goal at Tynecastle, and a battling point for a goalless draw at Easter Road. Having already beaten Livingston at home this season, there was no getting away from the fact that this was a game they COULD win. They SHOULD win. They HAD TO win.

At half time it was looking grim. Forty-five of the worst minutes of the season so far had been punished only by Daniel Mullen’s goal for Livi. The second half, shooting towards the Sons support, saw the transformation into the Dumbarton side everyone recognises under Murray’s management. Fleming equalised, Mitch Megginson’s first league goal of the season put them in front. Chances were limited – but it was comfortable enough, and Sons, who were bottom of the table at half time, instead mark Murray’s two-year anniversary in seventh place.

Scotland 1 Republic of Ireland 0 – post-match editorial

FIVE kicks of the ball. That was all that was needed.

Player A takes the corner short to player B, who returns it to him. He then gives it to player C, and after getting it back again, goes for goal. It sounds so simple that you could teach it on any training pitch. In reality it takes great talent.

We’ve waited for at least three campaigns to see what it takes for Scotland to win a game which they need to win. A match against one of their main rivals for a qualification place. In the end, it came down to that, with players A, B and C being Shaun Maloney, Ikechi Anya and Scott Brown respectively.

That and roughly 1,000 subsequent seconds of frayed nerves and gut-wrenching tension. Nails were bitten, gaps in fingers were looked through. Some people didn’t do looking at all. And that was before the visitors’ late header hit the bar.

That was the kind of moment that tells you your luck’s in. Then, minutes later, the final whistle confirmed it. We couldn’t do it against Norway, the Czech Republic or Serbia. Now we’ve done it against one of our main rivals in Euro 2016 qualification.

Nearly at the halfway point, we’re still on course. And our last game before we’re 50 per cent of the way through is at home to the minnows of the group, Gibraltar. That night, at Hampden in March, is another time to make a statement.

Of course it SHOULD be a gimme that we’ll win. Greece would have felt that their game against the Faroe Islands on Friday was a gimme. Maybe the Faroes’ 1-0 victory was a lesson to Europe. But there should be no chance of lightning striking twice. It’s not just whether we win, though – it’s how we win. Poland and the Republic of Ireland have already stuck seven past Gibraltar. Matching or bettering that tally would send out another message.

That’s for another day of course, but there are several elements of Friday’s game to be taken forward into other fixtures. Defensively we were steady for most of the night, barring a slightly dodgy spell late in the first half. Attack-wise the chances didn’t flow, but they weren’t going to. After all, a draw would have been better for the visitors.

It’s your job, in that case, to find a way through. And we did, with five touches of the ball.

It would be wrong to write an item on the game without mention of Hull City’s Andrew Robertson. So often you hear about how youngsters are ‘not ready’ for this sort of arena. He is. But that’s a column for Saturday’s Sons View.

The important element now is not to let one good key result cloud our judgement. Maybe that was our big mistake in Euro 2008 qualifying – the two victories over France installed some idea that the job WAS done. It wasn’t then, and it isn’t now. We’ve still to go to Dublin and Georgia, and play Poland at home. All games which will decide our fate.

But we’ve taken one hell of a step. One we’d NEVER have taken in the last few campaigns. We’d have drawn at best. Now we’ve won that type of game. The plane to France hasn’t taken off yet, but it’s appearing on the boarding monitor.

Livingston 1 Dumbarton 2

YOU have to hand it to Dumbarton.

There can’t be many teams who follow their poorest display of the season with an even worse opening 45 minutes of the next game.

And then come out after the restart and produce one of their best performances for some time to register a hugely important victory. But they did.

At Livingston they spent the first half proving that it is indeed humanly possible to play worse than they did at Dumfries last week.

They trailed 1-0 at half time to a Daniel Mullen goal when a side in better form than Livi, without a league win since September 13, would have sealed the deal. Indeed, only an astonishing miss prevented a two-goal deficit.

But this was the kind of fixture that the ‘game of two halves’ cliche was invented for. Sons were well on top of the second 45 minutes – and Garry Fleming and Mitch Megginson got the goals that mattered.

The day could have ended with Sons at the bottom of the Championship table. Instead, by virtue of Alloa’s 1-1 draw at Rangers, they gained a place to go seventh.

No-one is pretending that one good half, and one vital result, ends any doubt over the season’s outcome. Start next week’s game against Hibs as they started this one and Dumbarton WILL be beaten.

However, the second half at Almondvale was like flicking a time machine switch back to last season. A change of formation saw the football which brought Sons such success earlier this year.

As well being a vital victory, it was also their fourth win at Almondvale in a row – a run which started with a famous overhead kick.

But attacking the Bryan Prunty stand in the first half, Sons carried no attacking threat at all. It was grim to watch.

Fortunately Livi inflicted limited punishment. All they managed in the early stages was a Myles Hippolyte shot which rolled through to Jamie Ewings.

But on 28 minutes came the kind of incident which has been central to Sons’ problems of late. They had the ball in a promising attacking position – and lost it.

What should have been a chance for Dumbarton became a goal for Livingston, with the counter attack finished by Mullen’s low shot from 15 yards.

Eight minutes later it should have been 2-0, with the same player in splendid isolation in the centre to meet a high ball from the right. His header hit the bar, was adjudged not to have crossed the line, and was scrambled clear.

Sons went in at half time reflecting on that great escape – and how what they had produced was nowhere near what they are capable of delivering.

The second half started promisingly enough but still without a test for the home keeper. And then Livi had another moment when they could have sealed it.

Keaghan Jacobs ran on to a long ball and finished – but the offside flag was up long before the ball in the net.

Video footage suggests it was a close call, but what’s that they say about breaks evening themselves out? And after some of the penalties awarded against Sons of late, they were due some fortune.

And they were now on the move.

Scott Agnew’s free kick from the right bent narrowly wide of the far post, with Colin Nish and Andy Graham just missing the vital touch.

But there was another chance for Livi, with Ewings making a miraculous close range save from Kyle Jacobs. The seed was being planted that this could be Dumbarton’s day.

It was on 62 minutes.

Agnew’s corner from the left caused a scramble in the home area and Fleming – who went into the game as Sons’ only goalscorer since September – blasted in the loose ball.

A minute later Ewings again saved Sons, turning Kyle Jacobs’ shot from distance over.

The chances weren’t coming readily for Sons, but in terms of attacking threat, this was poles apart from the first half.

And after 70 minutes, Mark Gilhaney was away down the right and sent a low ball over for Megginson.

A loss of footing made it look as if the forward had missed out on his first league goal of the season. But he got back up and with a low, angled drive, put it away.

The last 20 minutes were nervous off the pitch, but on it Sons were strong. They saw off any attacking threat shown by Livi, and it transpired that their two second half goals were enough.

Sometimes victory doesn’t have to be convincing. It doesn’t need Shaun Maloney-esque goals. The points just need to be gained.

They were. Now to kick on from here.

Livingston: Jamieson; Talbot, Fordyce, Ky Jacobs, Ke Jacobs, O’Brien, Robertson (White 71), Hippolyte, Glen, Mullen, Rutherford (Ogleby 83). Subs: Grant; Praprotnik, Beaumont, Currie, Cook. Booked: Robertson, Rutherford, Mullen, Hippolyte.

Dumbarton: Ewings; Graham, Mair, Turner, Gilhaney, Agnew, Nish, Megginson (MacDonald 90), Taggart, Fleming (Campbell 77), McDougall (Kirkpatrick 85). Subs: Grindlay; Van Zanten, McLaughlin. Booked: Fleming, Gilhaney, Nish.

Referee: Stephen Finnie.

Crowd: 1,020.

Scotland v Republic of Ireland editorial

SO far the balancing act is working out. The scales sit neatly poised, with almost equal content in each tray.

A huge weight is about to be added – one much heavier than anything used so far. By placing it in one tray, you are potentially one of four teams joint top of the group, on seven points. You’ll have played arguably your two toughest fixtures already, and have a path towards judgement day that you’d readily accept. However, if the weight goes on the other side, the worst-case scenario is that you are already six points adrift of the two automatic qualification places, and three short of the play-off spot. It’s not over by any stretch of the imagination, but you’ll know what an opportunity you’ve missed, and that it’s much more difficult for you than it could have been. So…where’s it going?

That, in a few sentences, is the scenario facing Scotland on Friday, with the Republic of Ireland coming to Celtic Park for game four of 10 in the Euro 2016 qualifiers. We’ve been in a situation like this before – and messed it up during the error-strewn reigns of George Burley and Craig Levein. However, under Gordon Strachan, there’s a different feeling ahead of facing the Irish. We’ve taken four points from our opening three games, including trips to Germany and Poland, winning the only game where we were stonewall favourites for victory, at home to Georgia. Despite the two points which got away fairly late in the evening in Warsaw, that’s something that would have been acceptable to most before a ball was kicked. Now we’ve reached the first checkpoint.

Our trip to France just over 18 months from now hinges on matches like this. Teams qualify for finals by winning these games – not often by drawing them and very rarely by being beaten. We’ve discovered that to our cost far too often in this type of fixture over the last few campaigns. In fact, if you want to find an example of us winning a meaningful game against one of our main rivals to qualify, you have to go back to October 2007. James McFadden running on to a low ball, leaving the Ukraine defence for dead and sealing a 3-1 win at Hampden which kept our hopes of reaching Euro 2008 alive. Since then, our record in these must-win games is little short of dire. Norway at home, October 2008 – Chris Iwelumo and that miss. 0-0. Czech Republic at home, September 2011 – Danny Wilson and the late penalty. 2-2. Serbia at home, September 2012 – 0-0. The start of a wretched campaign which resulted in us being officially the first European team out of the World Cup.

But for all the failures of that term, we may be about to unearth a positive. Also in that group were Croatia. By the time we first played them, in Zagreb in June 2013, our hopes of Brazil were gone, but the game still meant something to the hosts. A single Robert Snodgrass goal later, we were doing what we were capable of doing against teams we viewed as rivals to qualify. When the teams reconvened at Hampden last October, the match was a dead rubber, with Croatia already in the play-offs having conceded first place to Belgium. However, Snodgrass scored again and Steven Naismith rounded off a 2-0 win. So that’s two games against a team which went on to reach the World Cup finals and were holding Brazil all the way until a dodgy penalty swung it in the South Americans’ favour. We won both and didn’t concede a goal. So who says we can’t compete in these fixtures?

We’ll be up against tough opposition on Friday, no doubt about that. Tough opposition who’ll be desperate to get another game in after their excellent and heroic 1-1 draw away to Germany in their last outing. Typical of teams managed by Martin O’Neill. His Celtic, Aston Villa and Sunderland sides made a habit of producing battling, spirited performances which were, fairly often, rewarded late in the day. If we are privileged enough to find ourselves in a winning position, Scotland must not stop until their visitors are finally beaten. And that is highly unlikely to come before the Serbian referee Milorad Mazic whistles for the final time on the evening.

However, it’s not a task we should be fearing. Fear it and we will not win. This campaign has already seen Scotland play some of their best attacking football since the close-but-no-cigar efforts to qualify for Euro 2008. Steven Naismith is arguably in the best form he’s been since he joined Rangers from Kilmarnock in 2007 – his performance as the lone striker in Germany was as good as any over the years. Other players are playing well, and more importantly playing at a good level regularly. And perhaps most importantly, we have a manager who can get the best out of players at the highest level. That bit in the previous paragraph about Ireland not knowing when they’re beaten? How many times did Strachan’s Celtic, in the Champions League, turn defeats into draws, draws into wins, in the final seconds?

We can beat Ireland. We SHOULD beat Ireland. We should have beaten Norway, the Czech Republic and Serbia. But this time there’s a different feeling. One of optimism and endeavour as the checkpoint looms. We go into it feeling satisfied with how we’ve done so far. But when we head where we’re heading on Saturday – in Dumbarton’s case, Livingston – we’ll feel differently. The mood will either be an all-too-familiar one of missed opportunity. Or  one we’ve arguably not experienced since that McFadden goal against Ukraine. One where we can truly feel confident about our chances of qualifying for a major finals again.

Queen of the South 3 Dumbarton 0

THE scoreline may read that Queen of the South defeated Dumbarton 3-0.

But the real big winners of the day were any watching retailers or shop owners.

Because with Christmas now less than seven weeks away, this game was the perfect advert for starting your shopping now. Or staying in the house and watching the scores roll in.

Almost anything, actually. Except watching Championship football. Or watching Dumbarton.

In a dreadful 90 minutes, Queens were decisive winners through John Baird’s first half penalty and second half goals by Mark Durnan and Derek Lyle.

The Dumfries side weren’t as fluent as they have been against Sons in the past, but didn’t need to be as a result of a woeful performance by their visitors.

And five words sum up why Dumbarton are at a real crossroads at the moment.

One goal in six games.

Whatever the standard of opposition, that statistic makes horrendous reading. Even more so when you consider that goal was Garry Fleming’s effort at Hearts which was only ever likely to be a consolation.

It should never apply to a side with the attacking quality Dumbarton showed last season. Of the 14 players who took part in this match, nine were involved in the 4-1 demolition of Hamilton Accies back in April.

They were part of a squad who, at several points of the 2013/14 campaign, scored goals for fun. But now, one third of the way through this league season, Sons have registered eight goals – one of them an own goal.

That works out, on average, at 24 goals over the entire year. Teams don’t achieve any objectives with that sort of form.

And there’s no point in blaming Chris Kane’s injury for the lack of goals. It certainly doesn’t help, but finding the net is a team effort.

It’s so far removed from the performances of last season. It needs sorted.

So do the failures to defend cross balls that led to goals two and three for Queens. Overall, the journey up the M74 was one which presented manager Ian Murray with much to think about.

In a turgid opening half hour, all the fans got by way of attacking action was a shot from each side which just missed the target. Baird’s long range effort went wide for the hosts while Fleming’s shot did likewise for Sons.

Then Lyle headed the ball down for Baird six yards out but with the offside flag down, the striker somehow blasted over.

He needn’t have worried as a minute later, Scott Taggart was adjudged to have handled in the area. There was little doubt that the ball did hit his hand but what he was supposed to do about it at such close range is very much open to discussion.

Baird dispatched the award – the fourth penalty conceded by Sons in as many league games. Of those, only Prince Buaben’s effort for Hearts was a clear correct decision.

The second half was almost equally unwatchable, although Dumbarton were unlucky not to equalise two minutes after the restart.

Mitch Megginson flicked the ball on for Kieran MacDonald, but the full back’s low shot from the corner of the area was touched wide by the keeper.

The 70-minute mark arrived without any further chances for either side in a grim spectacle. Then Dumbarton’s defence collapsed.

Durnan was given a free header at the pack post to put away a cross from the right.

If there was any doubt as to whether that had sealed the points, it disappeared 120 seconds later. Another free header, this time for Lyle in a central position, gave the home side their third.

Iain Russell’s almost obligatory goal for Queens nearly followed but Jamie Ewings saved at his feet.

Aside from two late chances for Megginson, the first of which saw him force a save out of the keeper with a 20-yard shot, that was that.

A side which, only months ago, was as powerful an attacking force as any in the Championship, had another blank scoresheet.

Whether Kane is available to face Livingston this Saturday, that run has to end. If the current goal statistics aren’t enough to worry about, how does a place in the bottom two – where Sons will be if they lose at Almondvale – sound?

Queen of the South: Clark; Holt, Dowie, Durnan, Higgins, Kerr (Dzierzawski 89), Baird, Carmichael, McShane, Lyle (Kidd 83), Kiltie (Russell 45). Subs: Atkinson; D Smith, A Smith, Fowler.

Dumbarton: Ewings; Graham, Mair, Gilhaney (McDougall 81), Agnew, Megginson, Taggart, Fleming (Nish 78), McLaughlin (Turner 78), Campbell, MacDonald. Subs: Rogers; Van Zanten, Kirkpatrick.

Referee: Craig Thomson.

Crowd: 1,677.

The goals will come

THERE were five full Scotland internationals on Dumbarton’s pitch on Saturday.

And another of Rangers’ players that day has just been called up by the national team for the forthcoming internationals.

But even with guys like Kenny Miller, Lee McCulloch and new Scotland call-up Lewis MacLeod on the pitch, one man came away with huge admiration.

Garry Fleming may have finished on the losing side in a 1-0 defeat, but his performance for Sons was rated by many observers as the best on the park.

No official man of the match was named and ultimately, the forward’s only remnants of the day are memories of an unlucky defeat.

However, despite the result, there was enough on show from Garry and his team-mates to suggest a win is possible at Queen of the South on Saturday.

He said: “We were disappointed with the result because we thought we did enough to maybe get a draw out of it, or even win the game.

“We lost the goal at a bad time but it was a good performance by us and we were unlucky not to get more.

“I was very happy playing in midfield. I’ve been there for the last couple of games and am enjoying it.

“But all the boys played well on Saturday. Against the likes of Rangers you need to raise your game that bit extra and we certainly did that.

“Obviously you want to try and get as far as possible in the Scottish Cup, especially after reaching the quarter-finals last season.

“After playing Rangers the week before in the league we knew that we could go and beat them, but it wasn’t our day.

“Dumfries is a tough place to go, but we’ve gone there and won before so there’s nothing stopping us doing it again, especially with the performance on Saturday.”

As well as impressing on Saturday, Garry has done something in the last five games that none of his team-mates have.

Score a goal.

His consolation effort in the unlucky 5-1 defeat at Hearts is the only time Sons have found the net in that spell – but he’s confident the goals will come.

And he’s well aware of how the shooting boots will be needed in the games to come. After Saturday, Dumbarton’s next three road trips are to Livingston, Alloa and Cowdenbeath – the three teams below them in the Championship.

Garry continued: “We’ve deserved more upfront than we’ve had. We just need to get the breaks at the right time and we’ve been up against hard opposition.

“These teams don’t give you many chances and when you get one you have to take it.

“The goals will come for us. We’ve got players like Colin Nish and Chris Kane, who has been a big miss for us while he’s been injured.

“Scoring at Tynecastle was special for me. It was my first goal of the season and to do it in front of such a big crowd was great.

“We were just disappointed about the result but I was glad to get off the mark and hopefully I can get more as the weeks go on.

“The coming away games are massive for us. The teams round about you are the ones you have to get results against as they are battling down there as well.

“Hopefully we can edge them and take maximum points, but they are tough sides as well. If we play as we did on Saturday we should be confident.”

Garry also has his first-ever live TV game to look forward to on Saturday, December 20, when Sons play Falkirk live on BBC Alba.

He reckons that will be another occasion for the players to relish – and added that it hasn’t thrown the team’s Christmas night out into chaos.

He added: “I was wondering if we were going to get a TV game this season!

“I think a lot of people will watch it with the later kick-off. Some of the boys have played at that time before but it’ll be strange for me.

“The Christmas night out was booked early, so there’s no issue there!”

Dumbarton 0 Rangers 1

RANGERS. This season’s Dundee.

The team against whom, whatever Dumbarton try, they just don’t seem to get the breaks.

Even the results in this season’s three meetings against the Ibrox club have been the same as the opening three against Dundee in 2013/14 – 1-4, 0-3, 0-1.

In parts of the first two of those fixtures, Sons have been outclassed. But yesterday, despite the Gers’ Kris Boyd scoring the only goal of the game, it was different.

Dumbarton were lively, creative and incisive going forward, and for most of the afternoon, solid at the back. Just about every aspect of the game was there.

Except one.

For the fourth time in the last five games, Sons couldn’t put the ball in the net when chances presented themselves.

They deserved at least another crack at Rangers, which would have taken place at Ibrox next Saturday at the expense of the Championship trip to Queen of the South.

But performances don’t win games. Goals do. And as much as Sons were improved on last week’s 3-0 league reverse against the Ibrox side, the ball needs to be hitting the net.

The league is now the sole focus of their season. Their Scottish Cup campaign, which lasted over four months last season, is over after 90 minutes this time around.

And back on Championship business, starting at Dumfries next Saturday, the shooting boots have to be on. It’s literally the only aspect missing from this fine performance which deserved more than it got.

Against the same opposition who beat them fairly and squarely seven days earlier, Sons were the better side for much of the first half.

Mitch Megginson had an early 15-yard shot which was turned round the post by the visiting keeper. Then Colin Nish beat Lee Wallace to a loose ball only for his effort to go over.

It took 37 minutes for Rangers to force their first serious opening, with Ricky Foster dragging a low shot wide from 20 yards after cutting inside.

The same player’s shot was diverted into the net by Boyd four minutes from half time, but the offside flag was up. Then Mark Gilhaney found space on the edge of the area, but his shot rolled through to the keeper.

Half time loomed with the scores level – and then, with the last kick of the half, it happened.

Lewis MacLeod’s through ball into the area was met by Boyd, whose low shot found the net, going in off the post.

Sons boss Ian Murray would have been getting ready to tell his team to keep doing what they were doing. Now they had to find a goal from somewhere.

But Boyd nearly had his second five minutes after the restart after a mix-up in midfield. Fortunately, after the striker ran in on goal, Jamie Ewings came out to block his effort.

Ewings was in goal as Danny Rogers was not allowed to play due to the terms of his loan from Aberdeen. That save was a real statement.

Rangers did force the clearer chances in the early second half but struggled to seriously test Ewings. MacLeod was at the centre of most of the action, but his shot from the edge of area went past after he cut inside.

Then midway through the second half, he had another go from the corner of the area but the keeper saved comfortably.

With 14 minutes to go came another opportunity for Sons. Andy Graham – whose participation was in doubt before the game due to a knock – got his head to Scott Agnew’s free kick in a crowded area.

Keeper Lee Robinson beat away his header at point blank range, with Rangers scrambling clear.

That was a telling sign, as was Garry Fleming’s effort which went just the wrong side of the post minutes later. Maybe Sons’ luck was just out.

With two minutes to go, Gers substitute Jon Daly could have killed Sons off after meeting MacLeod’s through ball, but blasted his effort over.

There was another half chance for Sons in the dying stages, but Agnew’s shot was blocked at close range.

And that was it. All Dumbarton had for their excellent efforts was the applause of the fans and the finalised knowledge that they will travel to Dumfries, and not Govan, next Saturday.

That trip has the potential to be a success – but only if one missing aspect can be brought to the table.

Sons have scored one goal in their last five matches – an ultimately academic effort from Fleming at Hearts.

Their performance yesterday deserved to end that run. They’ll just have to do it at Palmerston instead.

Dumbarton: Ewings; Linton (Van Zanten 84), Graham, Mair, Gilhaney, Agnew, Megginson (McDougall 81), Fleming, McLaughlin, Campbell (Turner 70). Subs: Grindlay; McCallum, Lightbody, Whitefield.

Rangers: Robinson; Smith, Wallace, McCulloch, Law, Black, MacLeod, Boyd (Daly 75), Miller, Foster, McGregor. Subs: McCrorie; Mohsni, Templeton, Clark, Faure, Shiels. Booked: McGregor, Foster.

Referee: Bobby Madden.

Crowd: 1,878.