Stranraer 0
Dumbarton 0
League 1 Play Offs (Semi final 1st leg)

Match Report

IT's winner takes all on Tuesday after the first leg ended goalless away to Stranraer on Saturday. In a close fought game, in a tight midfield battle there was rarely much goalmouth action until the final 15 minutes which produced a number of chances neither side could take.

The first solid chance of the half took until the 26th minute to arrive. A fresh air clearance in the Sons defence let in Darryl Duffy who steadied himself before hitting a low shot that Sam Ramsbottom did a fabulous job blocking. It was Duffy again two minutes before halftime when he sent in a long range effort that flew over the bar.

Sons best chance of the half came a minute later when a dangerous, curling cross from Ross Forbes was headed out for a corner by the Stranraer defence.

Most of the second half was similar to the first 45 minutes with few chances created until Stranraer spurned a gilt edged chance on 78 minutes. The ball was sent across the Sons six yard box and was missed by everyone including the onrushing Stranraer forwards.

That seemed to spark the game in general, and Sons in particular, to life. On 83 minutes a challenge on the edge of the box left Greg Fleming on the ground and the ball at Robert Jones' feet 30 yards out. He skied an effort goal-ward and although it was on target, the Stranraer defender had plenty of time to position himself on the goal-line to clear the ball.
A minute later saw Conner Duthie set off on a mazy run that left the Stranraer defence trailing but his shot was parried by Fleming. In a final effort to take a lead into the 2nd leg, Forbes fired in a shot on 87 minutes that flew past the far post.

If the 90 minutes on Tuesday fails to separate the sides, it'll be down to penalties to decide who meets the winner of the other semi final in next week's final. With Edinburgh one up against Elgin in the battle of the Cities, they will be favourites going into the tie but it's still all up for grabs in both semi finals.

Match report written by Graeme Robertson (dumbartonfc.com)