League

Bannockburn ............. 1

Dumbarton St Pats .... 0

BANNOCKBURN AFC kept alive their faint title hopes with a hard-fought 1-0 win over bottom side Dumbarton St Pats last weekend.

'Seven wins and you never know' was how Kenny McLellan encouraged his Burn squad before kick off. While a title win still looks a tall order, requiring Burn to keep winnning and rivals Colville Park to implode.

The game itself was a fast flowing one and it produced the hosts with a chance after a minute with the ball bawbling around on a bumpy and soft Ladywell pitch.

Burn secured a brace of corners within five minutes. Andy McGown’s header from a McLellan corner was only kept out by a fine save from the visiting keeper.

St Pats threatened after Paul Statter was dispossessed in midfield and the resulting shot was palmed away by David Tait towards another forward, but the danger was averted with Michael Weir’s last ditch clearance.

Chances then came a plenty for Burn as Darren Walker, a Steven Knox header and a shot from David Donaldson all tested the keeper.

On the half hour, Burn began to lose control of the game, missing out on second balls and to some extent their shape as the visitors enjoyed their best spell in the match.

On 40 minutes, St Pats gained a corner from a Harry Bruce errant header and the opposition's left back saw his header whizz just past the far top corner.

Burn regrouped at the half time break and on the hour, a super move involving Weir, Donaldson and Ross Cavanagh set up a great cross from Steven Knox, but Walker's was agonisingly close.

On 65 minutes, another Walker opportunity flashed just wide of the post, but it proved to be warning shot that St Pats did not heed.

Burn finally broke the deadlock on 70 minutes and it was third time lucky for Walker as he finished crisply from a good through ball by Gary Currie.

A breakaway straight from a burn corner lead to a golden opportunity for the St Pats number 11, but the striker missed a sitter.

Walker had another couple of chances and an 18 yard drive from McIntosh pinged the post on its way wide, but Burn held on to secure their first 1-0 win for a very long time.