Dumbarton 0 Hamilton Accies 3
Strathclyde Homes Stadium, 18 October 2003
Report by Gilbert Mowat
Accies completed the first quarter of the season in fine style with this comprehensive win against bottom of the table Dumbarton at Strathclyde Homes Stadium. The highlight for the fans (in the sizeable travelling support) was the long awaited return of Angolan winger Jose Quitongo, who made his 100th appearance for the club over three years since he played his 99th. The wee guy played up front beside Brian Carrigan, which meant that John Bailey was relegated to the bench. Brian McPhee, Andy Whiteford and Jim Sherry were unavailable through injury, so manager Allan Maitland brought John Fitter and Andy Arbuckle into a much changed Accies lineup. The Sons had former Accies centre half Ian Dobbins in their side.
The opening period followed the familiar pattern of a typically robust Division 2 match and it was quite alarming to see Brian Carrigan and Chris Aitken receiving treatment from physio Michael Valentine within the first 15 minutes. The challenge (or should that be the assault) on Aitken by Nigerian midfielder Obidile was outrageous and he was lucky not to get a red card for his two footed lunge on Tiff.
Both sides had decent chances to open the scoring during the early stages. Chris Aitken missed the ball when given a good chance about 6 yards out while Any Arbuckle made a hash of a good chance from about 10 yards. The Sons had a couple of good chances too - the best was when one of their font men "sprung" Accies' lamentable attempt at an offside trap but his shot was well held by David McEwan after he was harassed by Chris Aitken.
Accies took the lead after 26 minutes with a goal that was officially credited to Mark Corcoran, although there was an argument that it should have been debited as an own goal by Sons goalie Stephen Grindlay. Accies won a corner following a fruitless free kick and Corky swung the ball high into the danger area. Grindlay tried to catch it, but the ball spun through his fingers and flew into the net.
One feature of the first half was the relative ease with which the Dumbarton forwards were penetrating the Accies defence. Things looked pretty disorganised and a better team would have scored a goal or two. However, a combination of poor luck and poor play meant that Accies led by that single goal at the break.
Sons manager Brian Fairley must have read the Riot Act at half time, as the home team flew into attack in the opening stages of the second half. Shots rained in on Dave McEwan in the Accies goal but they just couldn't make the breakthrough. They were made to pay for this just 7 minutes into the half, when Accies doubled their lead with a well worked goal. An Accies attack down the left broke down and one of their players came away with the ball. Sandy Hodge showed great perseverance in winning the ball back and he fed the ball to Stevie Convery. His low cross was fired home from close range by Jose Quitongo, who was immediately mobbed by his teammates.
Accies made the game safe in the 69th minute, when Steven Thomson thumped the ball home off the underside of the crossbar following a corner on the left for his second goal of the season. This was the cue for some of the Dumbarton fans to vote with their feet and depart the premises.
With the game won, the only thing in real doubt was whether or not the home team would finish the game with 11 men as they started to lose their composure. They used all 3 substitutes and even replaced Ian Dobbins as they concentrated on attack. Despite a couple of near things it was obviously not going to be their day and Accies managed only their second clean sheet of the season. For their part, the Accies forwards did their best but no more goals were forthcoming. Chris Aitken tried to chip the goalie from the centre circle (again) but his shot fell well short. A great chance went begging when wee Jose and one of the other forwards got in each others' way and the ball bounced to safety.
Towards the end it was funny to hear the stadium announcer say that the Dumbarton man-of-the-match was defender Craig Brittain - the Accies fans really enjoyed this moment while the player himself looked dejected.
It was very encouraging to see this much changed Accies team win the points. They did it with some style too although those defensive lapses will have to be ironed out before the better teams in the league come calling. Wee Jose will certainly add something to the team (and perhaps to the gate) and it will be interesting to see how the team lines up when all the injured players are fit.
Dumbarton: Grindlay, McKinstry, Brittain, Collins, Dobbins, Smith, Obidile, Boyle, Dillon, Flannery, English. Subs: Bonar, Bradley, McEwan, Russell, Banner.
Hamilton: McEwan, Fitter, Hodge, Thomson, Lumsden, Arbuckle, Carrigan (Donnelly), Aitken, Corcoran, Convery (Waddell), Quitongo. Subs: Donnelly, Bailey, Forbes, Waddell, Jellema.
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