Sons put hems on Blue Brazil

Andrew Cowie • Published 24 Mar 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Darren McGregor goes close.

Cowdenbeath 0, Dumbarton 0.

A WELL organised Dumbarton put the hems on the Cowdenbeath goal machine at Central Park on Saturday.

Sons defended in depth when they had to but really Cowden would consider they should have won the game having missed several good chances.

It was certainly two points dropped by the Blue Brazil in the race for the Barrs Irn Bru Second Division title but the visitors will cause bother for all the four title chasers.

Cowden brought 'veterans' Craig Winter and Jay Stein back in for this one after resting them last midweek and both made a useful contribution.

Winter won a lot of possession with his hard tackling and along with Darren McGregor controlled the central midfield area for long spells.

Stein sent over a stream of crosses from the left and along with Brian Fairbairn posed a threat to the packed Dumbarton defence on the flanks.

However, strikers Gareth Wardlaw and Paul McQuade found it hard going against a Chris Smith inspired Sons rearguard.

He defied the Fifers on numerous occasions although Wardlaw would consider he should have scored at least once.

In defence Cowden were seldom under any pressure with the back four in complete charge of the Sons' frontline.

In only five minutes Wardlaw found space in the Dumbarton box and his low shot was gathered well by 'keeper Jan Vojacek. Soon after McGregor sent over a lovely ball from the left and as Wardlaw prepared to net Smith managed to boot the ball out for a corner.

In 13 minutes Cowden took a quick free-kick and Stein sent in a curling 20 yarder which Vojacek saved at the second attempt then seven minutes later Wardlaw's headflick sent McQuade clean through but he dragged his shot wide with only the 'keeper to beat.

Dumbarton were pretty well hemmed into their own half and they had to wait until the 37th minute to threaten at all when striker Denis Wyness fired in a low shot from all of 30 yards which David Hay held.

Four minutes from the break Scott Linton's neat pass sent McGregor clear in the box and he rounded Vojacek but the 'keeper had done enough to force the midfielder wide and he had to turn the ball back to Fairbairn from the byline rather than get in a telling shot.

Dumbarton opened the second period on a more positive note and David Winters raced into the box only to see Hay easily gather his low left foot shot.

John Dempster went on for McQuade after 62 minutes and and his first touch could have seen him score. Linton's pass gave his a clear view of Vojacek from 12 yards but his shot went just wide.

As Cowden continued to dominate, in 72 minutes McGregor's pass created a chance for Dempster but Smith blocked the sub's shot and then followed up to stop Wardlaw's drive from the rebound.

As the game entered the closing minutes Cowden kept pressing forward and in 86 minutes a Mark Baxter free-kick was headed inches over by Dempster and then in the last minute another substitute Mark Ramsay posed danger for Sons.

His cross was met by McGregor at the far post but somehow Vojacek managed to block his fierce header and Smith completed the clearance.

So the game ended goalless but Cowden had only themselves to blame for the chances were there to win all three points.

Cowdenbeath: Hay; Amrstrong, Linton; McGregor, Droudge, Mbu; Fairbairn (Ramsay 77), McQuade (Dempster 62), Wardlaw, Winter (Baxter 68), Stein. Subs not used, McBride and Bower.

Dumbarton: Vojacek; Chisholm, Smith; Dunlop, Gordon, McNiff; Geggan (Brannan 59), Chaplain, Winters, Wyness, Murray (Carcary 75). Subs not used, McStay, O'Donoghue and White.

Referee-Frank McDermott. Attendance-349.

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