KILMARNOCK 2 Brophy (3), Pinnock (45) DUMBARTON 0
Kilmarnock boss
Alex Dyer insists that Scotland’s Euro success is all the incentive Eamonn Brophy needs to force his way back into Stevie Clarke’s international plans.
Brophy, 24, who was last capped in the 2-1 win over Cyprus on June 19, was on the scoresheet after just 110 seconds as Killie wound up their Betfred Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over League One Dumbarton at Rugby Park with Mitch Pinnock also bagging his first goal for the club.
Dyer revealed that he punched the air with delight as former Ayrshire boss Stevie Clarke led Scotland to the Euro finals with that dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Serbia.
Dyer said: “Eamonn Brophy could have had a hat-trick and it was a good goal but we know he can finish.
“He just needs a lot more minutes under his belt and he can still do the business.
“We know what he is capable of and I hope that he can kick on and get back into the Scotland squad.
“He is a good footballer and a good person and that will come if he works hard and he does the right things on and off the pitch.
“I was punching the air when Scotland qualified. I was delighted for the gaffer and the nation.”
Ironically this was the third meeting of the two sides in the same competition in the last four seasons with the Ayrshire side winning on both previous occasions.
It was the hosts who got off to a flying start inside the first two minutes.
Brandon Haunstrup fed Youssouf Mulumbu who stabbed a wayward effort into the synthetic turf but the ball broke kindly to Scotland striker Eamonn Brophy who expertly swept home from 12 yards at the angle for the opener.
On 17 minutes Kevin Dabrowski produced a stunning one-handed reflex stop from Danny Whitehall’s piledriver.
Zeno Rossi then smashed a header off the crossbar following Rory Mckenzie’s corner from the left on 27 minutes.
On the stroke of halftime Pinnock cleverly spun in the box before clipping in a neat left foot finish to make it 2-0.
Dumbarton blew a chance to get themselves back into the match on 63 minutes when Morgyn Neill headed the ball down and Ruaridh Langan lashed wildly over the top on the half-volley and Ross Forbes saw his 25-yard free-kick tipped past by Jake Eastwood.
Brophy was then unlucky to see his deft flicked header saved down low by Debrowski after Aaron Mcgowan’s cross on 73 minutes.
Sons boss Jim Duffy said: “The first goal is a scuff shot by Mulumbu which falls perfectly for Brophy, it’s a great finish and something we could do nothing about.
“The goal at half-time put the game beyond us. It was a real test for us against Premiership opposition and for the main we made it difficult for them.”
STAR MAN: Striker EAMONN BROPHY could have had a hat-trick and served a timely reminder of his abilities to Steve Clarke