YFS
Fireworks were scheduled for both on and off the park this Guy Fawkes Night as classy French development side Edusport took on a Dumbarton outfit that still harboured promotion ambitions in this midweek friendly at Toryglen
A number of formers Hibs stars would be lighting up the touchlines as well tonight with three of their ex-players amongst the coaching staff for both teams. Guillaume Beuzelin had been very pleased with his fellow francophones transition to Scottish having beaten youth sides from Motherwell and Airdrie 9-0 and 5-2 respectively in their opening encounters whilst in charge of the Sons were Ian Murray and Colin Nish who saw this fixture as the perfect chance to run the rule over a number of trialists who were hoping to break into a side lingering just outside the Championships play off places.
Wet and wild though it was both sides were clearly looking to make an impression and the crowd in attendance were sure to be treated to a November to remember as we got under way, Dumbarton looking solid and efficient at the back and in midfield making the majority of the running but the younger French side were clearly a talented bunch and it was they who would have the best of the early chances.
Left back Yoann Bechairia was lively down the wing and proved too much for his marker in the early going as he fed the ball in to Clement Payerne but his eventual shot was wild and wide although Loic Leroy was far more accurate moments later when making half a yard of space for himself swivelled and shooting hard towards the top corner where only a fine two handed save by Stephen Grindlay in the Dumbarton goal kept the sides level.
The deadlock would be broken by Payerne soon after though as he was sent clean through on goal via a scintillating pass from the back cutting out the entire defence to leave him one on one with Grindlay, patiently waiting him out before calmly tucking the ball under him for the opening goal on the quarter hour.
Dumbarton looked to hit back rapidly and broke down the left with Kevin Smith cutting the ball back for Nicky Phinn to deliver his side’s first strike on goal but it failed to trouble Anthony Bal between the posts and the chance to equalise was missed.
Edusport were now beginning to show the kind of form that had seen them score 14 goals in their opening two matches and efforts by Amir Derradji, Jordan Orain and Maxence Rochoy would come close to doubling their sides advantage but it would be Bechairia who fulfilled his early promise after outpacing his opposite number yet again and enjoyed some superb interplay with Leroy who took two touches before setting his team-mate free in the box where his shot was tipped on to the post by Grindlay but inevitably span over the line to make it 2-0 inside half an hour.
The final action of the half would be created by Payerne who this time turned provider and skilfully stepped away from the challenges of Dumbarton’s defender’s before sliding the ball across the six yard box where Anthony Blain couldn’t help but score his side's third as we headed into the break.