TullyBascombe

Entertaining enough for a goalless draw on a terrible surface. Another tireless shift from Michael Ruth and an absorbing battle between Gallagher Lennon and Ross Taylor (who I always enjoy watching). Sons needed to go in ahead at half time after a dominant first 45 mins, Stenny much tighter second half.

Thought Michael Ruth was excellent today. Never stopped running despite having very little to work from in terrible conditions and used the ball really well when he had it. Finlay also had a great game despite a concerted attempt to kick him out of the game. I think Harry Broun’s confidence was really knocked by facing into that wind and rain in the first half, a thankless task for any keeper. Spilling that cross didn’t help. You can’t tell too much from a game in those conditions but Clyde might actually end up all right this season.

Incredible first half, Stenny started well but the two centre halves were all over the shop and it was great to see Sons looking confident going forward and actually having shots. Shots! Second half was a bit more like last season, as well as daft bookings and a dafter red card even allowing for the throbber of a ref. Ross Taylor was absolutely sensational for the home side. But to come away from Ochilview with four goals and only conceding a penalty and an unlucky 98th minute own goal is really something. Still expect Stenny to be up there, they played some great stuff. Defence won’t play that badly again I’m sure.

Was there any reason why we lined up at the river end of the ground for kick off? Warmed up as usual but then Long came out beckoning the coaches to the other end when he emerged for the game.

Finally dropped by the ground to renew my season ticket. "It's the cafe's card machine so don't worry if it doesn't say Dumbarton Football Club on your statement." And that is how I apparently came to spend upwards of 200 smackers at You'll Love Our Home Bakes. (Bank: "This guy's apparently just spent £220 on pies and cakes. Wait, that's a picture of him? Yeah, OK, checks out.")

Apologies if this is a daft question but speaking as a fairly recent blow-in - how does one go about joining the Trust?

Home shirt looks great. Away shirt looks inspired by a 1980s home furnishings catalogue.

Did Alex Lowry die for this?

Sorry to see McNiff go. What he lacked in pace he made up with nous, nowhere better than in the cup game at Killie against Danny Armstrong.

He was terrific in the 3-1 the other week, too. Despite the haircut.

As a committed coward who has always departed the first sign of football-related conflict like a sprinter on the 'b' of 'bang', there was something faintly enjoyable about watching the Sons kids running up Castle Road alongside the East Fife supporters' bus employing some hand gestures I don't think I even knew at that age.

This is rotten. Long’s playing a blinder. Incredible double save on the whistle there. Should be way more than three. The little hillbilly fella the 9 shirt will never enjoy a half of football more than he’s enjoyed that one.

Against all rational advice and sound judgement I’m going to head down. Presume you can pay at the gate?

It’s a small thing in the great scheme but I’ve noticed how Lynas is terrific with the ball boys and girls. Even when a game’s absolutely frenetic he always, without fail, has a word for them or a ruffle of their hair when they give him the ball. Sometimes see them turning away looking absolutely starstruck. He seems like a genuinely nice fella.

Any news on the Stenny lad who got injured early on? Never good to see a player given oxygen as he’s wheeled away on a stretcher. Not many positives yesterday but I thought Grant was excellent, getting his planet-sized head to everything bunted his way. Booking looked… harsh. Lynas gave everything again, after running himself into the ground on Wednesday night. If he ever runs out of steam it’ll be costly. Wallace buzzed about as ever, hitting the bar in the first half while that shot on the turn just past the post was probably the closest we came in the second. Hope he hasn’t done his hammy as someone suggested earlier. With Ross MacLean hobbling off it’s not looking good when all we could muster on the bench was two teenagers with about 40 minutes of first team football between them and two big lumps. Stenny’s subs are what turned the game. We’ve two or three more weeks with that bench by the sound of things. McLean was genuinely, properly, startlingly, beyond parody useless. Granted teams are going to put two big lads on him every time, but he trots on to the pitch with the air of someone who’s not sure why he’s being sent on to a football field wearing funny clothes and it just deteriorates from there. A good few players looked understandably knackered yesterday. Was a long, sapping week with a return of one point from nine. Ouch.