SHIRE 4 DUMBARTON 2

New signing Sean Simpson stole the show as Shire advanced to the second round of the Challenge Cup at rain-swept Firs Park.

The lanky midfielder scored twice and put the home team on their way to winning their first match in any of the three national cup competitions since 2001.

On the back of his display, Shire boss Gordon Wylde now hopes to sign the player on a longer term deal.

Simpson was one of eight changes to the team that started the weekend's 3-2 league victory over the same set of opponents.

Only Gordon Moffat, Carl Thywissen and Gary Kelly kept their places as Derek Ure, Kevin Struthers, Paul McBride and goalie Greig Mitchell were elevated from the substitutes bench.

Teenagers Ryan Carr and James McShane made the bigger jump from the reserve squad, but it was Simpson who stood out from the start.

He created Shire's first openings of the match , with a run and fine shot before sliding a pass through for Struthers which the striker fired straight at the legs of former Shire keeper Anton Nugent.

Shire had the lion's share of the early exchanges but couldn't find the back of the net and they paid for that when Paul McQuilken  crossed for Robert Campbell to slide the ball home.

But the lead lasted only a minute. Some clever footwork by Simpson created the space for a shot just inside the box and he beat Nugent easily.

There was no stopping the midfielder and three minutes after the break he gave Shire hte lead. Simpson collected a pass in the middle of the park and made a beeline for goal, cracking in a powerful shot which went through Nugent's fingertips into the net.

But the home team were not allowed to settle. After 53 minutes McQuilken lost his marker and bore down on goal. Mitchell did his best to hinder him but the Sons man managed to escape the keeper's dive and cross for Campbell to head into the unguarded net.

The game went from end to end and the fact that both clubs had chosen to field under-strength teams was making no difference to the quality of the match or the fans' value for money.

Shire struck what turned out to be the decisive blow after 71 minutes. A Graeme McLaren long-range free-kick caused Nugent problems. The visiting keeper managed to get down and save the shot but he could not hold the ball and the in-rushing Kevin Struthers smashed the rebound high into the net.

There were scares for Shire and Dumbarton had chances to take the match into extra-time but any ideasthey had of extending the encounter ended when Struthers headed in a lft-wing cross with two minutes to go.

Shire : Mitchell, Moffat, Carr, Doyle, Thywissen, Kelly(McGregor 60), McShane(McLaren 60), Simpson, Struthers, P. McBride, Ure.

Dumbarton : Nugent, Farro, McLennan, Yule(Haswell 19), Aitken McNaught(Thompson 78), Orr, Gentile, McQuilken, McAlpine, Campbell(Cavanagh 87).

Referee : Anthony Law

Attendance : 202.

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