No old pal’s pact as Ewings looks to hijack Saints
COMEBACK keeper Jamie Ewings has targeted a win against an old Buddy when Dumbarton face off against St Mirren this weekend.
The Sons are riding high after posting an excellent 2-1 win on Friday night against Stranraer to reach the last eight in the Irn-Bru Cup.
It’s the first time in 15 years Dumbarton have reached the quarterfinals of the revamped competition – and only the second time ever.
And it has given Ewings a massive boost as he prepares to maintains Sons’ impressive start to the season against Jack Ross’s Championship leaders.
St Mirren will be smarting after crashing out of the same competition on Saturday to Raith Rovers in a surprise defeat.
Buddies assistant manager James Fowler was in the crowd for the Stranraer match, and Ewings, who was recalled to the Dumbarton side for his first outing in 17 months, hopes he went home deep in thought.
He added: “You need to win your home games and we’ve been doing that. If you can win at home and take something away it stands you in good stead.
“Last year we were a bit stop-start but this time we’ve got points on the board early doors. We’ll be aiming to get more against St Mirren next week.
“I know Jack Ross well and he’s done brilliantly there. I always knew he’d make it to that level.
“We are the type of team that doesn’t make things easy. We weren’t great on Friday night but we ground out a result, which is the main thing.”
Ewings has had to bide his time to take the pitch again at the YOUR Radio 103FM Stadium.
He last donned the gloves on the final day of season 2015/16 when Dumbarton drew 1-1 at Alloa.
Since then he’s had to watch Scott Gallacher, and his old pal Alan Martin, keeping the starting jersey out of his reach.
But he was pressed into action on Friday night when Gallacher was injured and played his own role in a great victory for Stevie Aitken’s side despite a brief injury scare in the second half.
Ewings told www. dumbartonfootballclub. com: “I’ve been flung right in at the deep end.
“It was my first game for over a year, but I’m doing my bit for the team. It was a bit of a culture shock but I’m glad to help us through to the next round.
“There was never any possibility I might have to come off. It was just a bit of rustiness from not having played in a while.
“My shinguards were a bit tight, so I got the physio to cut them off and then it was just a case of stretching when I could. I managed the situation fine.
“Alan is a good friend of mine who I’ve known for about 15 years. I was always fighting his corner when he was here last season and he deserved to play as he did.”