at Hampden Park, Glasgow

Report by Sonny Rock

Next best goalscorer Andy Brown (4 goals) was to be Sons main goal threat with trialist Robert Dunn and unfortunately for the travelling Dumbarton fans it never clicked.

Another new face took the field for Dumbarton as loan signing from Motherwell Jon Connolly took his place between the sticks with John Wight making way for him.

Sons started brightly again much the same as they did against Peterhead the previous week but again they could not seem to make their domination pay dividends.

Queens Park had very few forays into the Sons half and limited their input to the match to defensive formations and clumsy fouling. Spiders Paul Borland was booked for clipping Martin Lauchlan's heels as the loan winger sprinted past him to set up another attack.  Sons play up until the final third was allowed to go unchallenged by what looked like a tired Queens team but neither of the front men seemed able to capitalise.

The last threat from Queens Park disappeared on 34 minutes with Borland's dangerous lunge at Sons impressive Martin O'Neil saw the young defender dismissed. Up against a team who were having a bad day to start with now reduced to 10 men surely the points were there for the taking.

Immediately after the dismissal Robert Dunn could have put Dumbarton one up. Queens Neil Collins casuall back pass to keeper Smith was cut out by the lively Dunn but Smith was quick to react and tackled the on-loan forward before he could turn.

Half-Time: Queens Park 0 Dumbarton 0

With Sons dominating the match but having no real goal attempts surely boss Tom Carson would through on Crilly and Robertson early doors to get the vital win - well you would think so.

Sons continued to huff and puff at the Queens Park defence but still there appeared to be no clear cut chances.

Indeed Queens almost snatched an unlikely lead when Mark Gallacher was allowed a free header from a Quinn cross luckily his effort was directed straight at new boy Jon Connolly.

On the hour Andy Brown, who is currently in a severe slump in form, should have put Sons ahead with the easiest of chances. Good work from Martin Lauchlan saw Smith in the Queens goal stranded on his six yard line as Brown arrived at the back post. Amazingly the big striker directed the ball away from the open goal and back in to the arms of the grateful Smith. Perhaps the big man needs a rest and Danny McKelvie should be given his chance.

With the match turning into a stalemate Sons fans were continually calling for the introduction of Robertson and Crilly but still the manager refused to budge.

Finally with only 15 minutes to go Crilly was introduced for Stevie Bonar. Jack came on tow minutes later and with only eight minutes to go Robertson came on for the hard working John Dillon. With the introduction of Robertson and Crilly Sons almost ran over the top of Queens. It was frustrating to see the best spell so late on when things could quite easily have been changed at half-time.

Martin Lauchlan almost grabbed the points as Sons were awarded an indirect free-kick in the box after Spiders keeper Smith held the ball too long in an apparent time-wasting move (Possibly a bit harsh). From the ensuing melee the ball broke to Lauchlan whose neat lob came off the bar with Smith stranded.

Full-Time: Queens Park 0 Dumbarton 0

It appears that some Sons directors were equally baffled with Tom Carsons initial team selection and then even more amazed by his tactical changes (or lack of them) when faced with ten men. With the relationship between T.C. and Davie MacParland at an all-time low something has to give.

In effect: "Watch this space".

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