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Dumbarton 2; Ross County 2 |
Ross County made life difficult for themselves again when they surrendered a two-goal lead in a vital match. Too often this season County have put themselves in a winning position only to leak goals late in the game and drop valuable points.
County took the lead when Golabek headed home at the back post. After the break, County broke the Sons' off-side trap and Adams slotted home.
But Dumbarton roared back and two goals in as many minutes by substitute Ward earned a draw for the home team. New signing Nicky Walker, the former internbational goalkeeper, must have wondered what he has let himself in for as he takes his place between the sticks behind one of the leakiest defences in the scottish League.
In spite of this draw, Ross County maintain their position at the head of Division Three. One wonders if they may rue the loss of these two points when the final tally is made at the end of the season.
HMM
Ross County 2; Dumbarton 3 |
Ross County's promotion hopes were dented when Dumbarton twice came back to level the game before snatching a winner fifteen minutes before the end.
Gary Wood opened the scoring in the twelfth minute but from that point on County never looked like title contenders and in the eighteenth minute Meechan equalised for the Sons. Wood scored his and County's second in the thirty-first minute but even this reprise did not strike any urgency into a lack-lustre performance by Neale Cooper's men. Meechan scored his second just before the break to give a half-time score of 2-2.
In the second half Ross remained the poorer of the sides and the best chances fell to the visitors. Substitute Glancy got the winning goal in the seventy-fifth minute and left the 1200 plus crowd baffled by Ross County's poor performance.
HMM 15 December 1997
Dumbarton 0; Ross County 1 |
On a very heavy Boghead surface, football was a rarity. Dumbarton had yet to win a game at home this season and after these 90 minutes they were left winless yet again
County adjusted to the glue-pot surface quickest and they had their first chance in the 16th minute when an Alex Taylor through ball was collected by Derek Adams but the home 'keeper produced the first of a number of good saves to stop Adams' volley.
Soon after, it was Nicky Walker's turn to produce a fine stop when he acrobatically turned away a goal-bound shot by Meechan.
Towards the end of the first half, leading goal-scorer Adams missed an easy opportunity when he was unable to capitalise on a loose ball after Gary Wood's terrific shot at goal.
The second half was not a memorable affair. Tempers became a little frayed as the players became frustrated by the poor underfoot conditions.
However, in the 73rd minute, substitute Charlie King was brought down in the penalty area. Adams struck the ball past the helpless 'keeper like a goal-scorer in form.
HMM 8 February 1998
Ross County 0; Dumbarton 0 |
Ross County made life very difficult for themselves with this drawn match at home to the club that is lying foot of the Third Division.
This was a game that County had to win and although they were by far the better side over the 90 minutes they just could not convert their out-field superiority into the goals required to win the match.
County’s task of winning the league is an impossible one and even achieving second place may well be beyond them. Much will depend on what happens in other matches.
County were always in command in this match but the poor form of their strikers continued. Poor finishing by both Connor Campbell and Derek Adams - yes, Adams’ goal against Dundee was a fluke! - help to compound matters in a match that County had to win.
County came closest to opening the scoring when Alex Taylor saw his excellent header rebound to safety off the cross bar.
In the second half it was one-way traffic towards the Dumbarton goal. Prompted by Gilbert and Taylor in midfield, County launched wave after wave of attack. Again poor finishing and a lack of telling crosses into the box meant that County were not finishing off in the way that they or the 1,475 crowd expected.
The best opportunity of the half fell to Adams who picked up a loose ball and rounded the ‘keeper before blasting the ball over the top when an open goal was beckoning.
HMM 29 March 1998
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