Dumbarton 1-0 East Fife, Saturday 2nd September 2023
Dumbarton Football Stadium, cinch League Two
East Fife fell short for the 5th week on the trot, this time losing to Dumbarton, 1-0 at the Rock. It is a truly disappointing result for the Black and Gold, who for the most part looked the better of the two sides. A last-minute winner from Sean Crighton was enough to leave East Fife winless and the Sons unbeaten after 5 games of the season.
The first half was a stark contrast to how the Fifers have played this season, as they largely hit on the front foot. Inside the first two minutes, Scott Shepherd cannoned a shot off the woodwork and East Fife implemented a high tempo and played a style of football similar to that which earned us a playoff spot last year.
Summer signing Brian Easton had the next chance of the game, as his flicked header from the corner was well timed, but unfortunately at too tight an angle, as it sailed out for a goal kick past the near post.
Dumbarton’s best chance at success was coming via a long ball to the onrushing strike partnership of James Hilton and Finlay Gray. The former nearly fired the Sons into the lead inside the opening 15 minutes, his driven effort from the edge of the area flashing wide.
Two minutes later, the hosts had another great opportunity in the form of a direct free kick, and despite it being very well struck, Allan Fleming was able to pluck it straight from the top corner, to keep the scores level.
Jack Healy was then able to tip the scales in East Fife’s favour, as he carried the ball into the box from a short free kick, he lasered the ball across the touchline, though there were no takers and it remained goalless.
Trouten and McManus both had long range digs at Brett Long, though the shots were right at the ex-Fifer.
Right on the stroke of half time, Healy was cannoned into the back of inside the penalty area, but the referee adjudged that there was no foul, and the sides went into the break goalless.
The second half saw the game massively open up, and Dumbarton put us under the cosh in the opening stages, Fleming was forced into another two great saves, one to deny a dinked effort, before seconds later parrying the second off of the post, keeping East Fife’s clean sheet in-tact.
Shortly after, Shepherd, who has been re-positioned out wide, put a lovely ball into the mixer, but Austin could not convert unfortunately. A further 10 minutes later saw East Fife squander two fantastic opportunities to break the deadlock.
Kieran Mitchell, the new striker on loan from local rivals, Championship side Raith Rovers, made his debut, and showed his blistering pace on the wing. He came on alongside Brogan Walls, who had a good chance with 10 on the clock, ushering himself into a small patch of space before firing wide.
The game entirely opened up, and it looked like if either side would win the game, it would be the Fifers, although that was not to be. In the 88th minute, Sean Crighton got on the end of an out swinging corner and met it with what can only be described as a bullet to hand Dumbarton the lead in the dying embers.
That was enough for Dumbarton to keep the points at the Rock as East Fife still search for their first League win of the season, despite a much-improved performance. Heads turn now to next week where we will see the Fifers face former SPFL side Albion Rovers in the 3rd Round of the SPFL Trust Trophy.
Dumbarton – Long, Durnan, Lynas (R Wallace 68’), Young (T Wallace 78’), Crighton, Malcolm, Wilson (Ruth 68’), Shiels, MacLean (Orsi 68’), Hilton (Blair 68’), Gray. Subs not used: Broun, Wylde, Vata, Byrne
East Fife – Fleming, Page, Docherty, Easton, Murdoch, McManus (Walls 78’), Millar (Nicol 90+1’), Trouten, Healy, Shepherd (Mitchell 78’) Subs not used: Beveridge, Comerford, Philp, Newton
Referee – Peter Stuart
Attendance - 599