SONS TEN IN A ROW

03-Mar-2012

DUMBARTON came close to beating Brechin City at Glebe Park, but had to settle for a draw — their tenth game in a row without a defeat.

A heavy pitch took its toll on quality football, but the 470-strong crowd saw a hard fought match which ended 2-2 which was probably a fair result.

Dumbarton started brightly in the sunshine and Ally Graham came close as the visitors won a series of corners. But the home side came into the game with long passes down the slope for their strikers to chase.

It was from one such move that Paul McManus — always a thorn in Sons flesh for various clubs in recent years — opened the scoring with a crisp shot which gave keeper Stephen Grindlay no chance.

Three minutes later a spectacular overhead kick from Rory MacKenzie put Brechin 2-0 ahead, and they dominated until half-time.

After the break and with the weather deteriorating Sons gradually took control, and six minutes into into the half Bryan Prunty was pulled down by the home no.2 in the penalty box. He took the kick himself, drilling it down the middle as veteran keeper Craig Nelson dived to his left.

It took another 20 minutes before the equaliser arrived, but it was worth waiting for. Talented on loan midfielder Mark Lamont was fouled a few feet outside the box, and dead ball expert Scott Agnew stepped up to score with one of his trademark swirling free kicks.

In the final minutes in what was now a downpour, Sons strived hard for a winner and were much the better side. The best chance fell to top scorer Prunty, but his powerful shot went just past the post.