DUMBARTON 1 SHIRE 1

The controversial sending-off of Shire defender Craig Tully overshadowed a fine comeback from the side at Dumbarton.

Tully was given his marching orders for an off-the-ball incident involving Sons substitute Neil Cusack. But the ten men, a goal behind at the time, sent on striker Marc McKenzie, who struck a deserved equaliser on 69 minutes.

Michael Bolochoweckyj returned to the centre of the Shire defence after missing the previous week’s game against Forfar. There was also a starting place on the left side of midfield for Dean Richardson, with David Nicholls and Gary Kelly making way.

Shire settled into a back four but Dumbarton started on the front foot. An early corner gave Michael O’Byrne a free headed but Greig Mitchell made an easy save. There was a moment of panic in the Shire defence after Bolochoweckyj mis-cued his clearance but after a scramble on the six yard line Eddie Forrest ushered the ball back to Mitchell.

Colin Cramb set up Richardson for a 20 yard drive after 10 minutes but the ball went well wide of target. Cramb again won possession in midfield on 18 minutes and this time provided Derek Ure with a shooting opportunity but his shot again failed to force the Dumbarton keeper into a save.

Cramb was struggling with an injury and he had to be replaced by Andy Rodgers on 22 minutes. Three minutes later the team fell behind. Cracary’s ball into the box was headed back across the face of goal by Logan for the unmarked Murray, who had time to gather the knock-down before sweeping it high into the net.

In 27 minutes Rodgers burrowed his way into the six yard box but his shot was blocked by a Dumbarton leg. After 32 minutes a long ball out of defence was chested down by Brian Graham into  the path of Ure but the Shire skipper’s effort was over the bar when he should at least have forced the keeper to make a save.

With four minutes Richardson angled a great ball in from the left when was perfectly met by Graham, but instead of bursting the net the on-loan Morton forward managed to head wide from six yards out.

The second half started slowly, with neither side able to take the initiative. Dumbarton sought as often as they  could to get the ball wide to the dangerous Murray but as often as they managed it the former Kilmarnock man’s final ball tended to be on the poor side.

In fact, it was Shire who created the first dangerous moment of the second period. Dunn headed a loose midfield ball into the path of Rodgers who tried to chip the keeper from the edge of the box but his effort was just too high.

Another Murray ball into the box after 55 minutes did find Carcary but his headed looped onto the roof of the net. Three minutes later there was controversy when the far side linesman stopped play to indicate to the referee an off-the-ball incident. After a brief period of consultation the referee called over Craig Tully and showed him the red card for an apparent kick at a Dumbarton player.

The ten men refused to conform to perceived wisdom, and instead of taking off an attacker for an extra defender, coach Jim McInally sent on another striker in the shape of Marc McKenzie. Whether it was an inspired substitution or not the wee front man got Shire back on level terms on 69 minutes.

Bolochoweckyj launched a long ball forward in McKenzie’s direction and his pace did the rest, taking him away from the home defence  before rifling in an angled drive off the far post into the net for the levelling goal.

McKenzie’s pace was causing Dumbarton problems and he might have struck a winner on 82 minutes when he received a pass at the back edge of the box and hit a shot which went across the face of goal and wide.

Dumbarton tried and struggled to apply pressure with the extra man advantage and Shire were forced into a few desperate goalline clearances, as well as some brave blocks, especially from Forrest.

In injury time Shire had a decent shout for a penalty when Rodgers tried to get round Wilson and fell to the ground but the referee waved play on despite the Shire forward’s loud protest.

Dumbarton : McEwan, Lennon, Wilson, O’Byrne, Gordon, Clark, Geggan, Logan(Tiernan 48), Chisholm(Cusack 51)., Carcary, Murray.

Shire : Mitchell, Hay, Richardson, Bolochoweckyj, Tully, Forrest, Donaldson, Dunn(McKenzie 58), Cramb(Rodgers 22), Graham(Kelly 53), Ure.

Referee : N. Watters.

Attendance : 592.