Dumbarton claim the Cup again

This article was first published as Sons triumph in the Stirlingshire Cup on the Dumbarton FC website

The teams line up before the Final

Stirlingshire Cup holders Dumbarton put on a determined display in the 2010-11 Final at SHS tonight, retaining the historic trophy with a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over SPLers Falkirk.

The youthful Falkirk side had the best of the possession in the opening stages of the game. But then on ten minutes a Gary Smith inswinger from the left for Dumbarton almost beat Bairns' keeper Graham Bowman on his near post.

Falkirk had their first serious chance shortly afterwards, but Kallum Higginbotham drove straight into the arms of Sons' stopper Michael White.

With both sides wanting to attack, the game swung back and forth, Dumbarton trying to move the ball out to the wings and Falkirk looking more direct in the middle of the park.

Approaching the half hour, Sons' number 9 Ross Campbell drove a shot over the bar from just outside the area, and minutes later had a header comfortably claimed by Bowman.

Sons close in on the Cup

On 41 minutes Tony Wallace brought Dumbarton fans to their feet with a well-clipped opening goal after two sweeping Sons moves.

Seven minutes into the second half, Gary Smith deservedly made it 2-0 for Dumbarton with a low drive from the edge of the box.

On 69 minutes Andy Geggan and Ryan Metcalf came on to reinforce Sons in a double substitution for Alan Cook and Ross Campbell.

Inside the last quarter hour Dumbarton, refusing simply to sit back on their lead, had two close offside calls going against them.

Sons' Rees Pearson replaced Ryan McStay in the final few minutes, as Dumbarton coasted to their third piece of silverware in three seasons, on a cold but cheerful night at the Rock.
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