Dumbarton United extended their advantage at the top of the Dunbartonshire Football Development U15 League with a convincing victory over Broomhill SC on Sunday. 

United, who have won their opening four matches of the season, burst out the traps and went 3-0 up after five minutes - displaying some fantastic counter attacking football.

With three minutes on the clock, Harry McKinnon latched on to a ball played down the right channel, before driving at the Broomhill defence and coolly slotting the ball under Lewis Murray for the opening goal of the game.

United doubled their advantage two minutes later, again with a fantastic sweeping counter attack. Aiden Fleming’s bursting run gave him acres of space to cross for Ryan Clifford, who scuffed in his first of the afternoon.

Clifford was to add his second and United’s third less than a minute later, showing great composure to side foot the ball home from inside the penalty box.

Broomhill’s attempts to force their way back into the match came to no avail, with Matthew Lee their most attacking outlet.

Clifford wrapped up his hat trick on the 12th minute with arguably the goal of the game. After taking a touch 25 yards out, Clifford unleashed an unstoppable strike that soared above Murray as United took their tally to four for the afternoon.

Two minutes later, it was Jaden McGee who added a fifth. The epitome of composure, McGee took a touch before placing a fantastic shot over the head of Murray.

Broomhill’s Hayman Osman went close for the hosts, dragging his effort just wide of  Dumbarton United goalkeeper Evan Currie’s right post. It was a difficult start for BSC, but they continued to push to find a way back in the game.

Midway through the first half, United should’ve had a sixth and would’ve had it not been for Liam Grant. Cameron Ritchie’s looping header from the edge of the area was destined for the back of the net, but Grant slid in to divert the ball out for a corner.

However, from the resulting corner United did score a sixth. Influential midfielder Jack MacCalman was left unmarked in the box and chested the ball past Murray as he got a well deserved goal.

With half an hour played, United made it 7-0. Declan McMullan’s acrobatic effort was beyond the reach of the diving Murray as United went into half time with an unassailable lead.

The second half started much as the first half ended, with United continuing to play a high pressing game. Ross Peters twice crossed from the right, with neither Ritchie or McKinnon able to connect.

Seven minutes into the second half, United were reduced to ten men with McMullan receiving a straight red card, but that didn’t stop them going on to grab the eighth goal of the game. Ronin Ross created room at the edge of the area before rifling the ball into the bottom corner.

Clifford’s run down the left saw him float a ball into the middle, with Ritchie on hand to tap in from all of two yards for United’s ninth.

McGee’s cross-cum-shot flew over the head of Murray and into the back of the net as United bagged their tenth of the afternoon.

Ritchie doubled his tally with a thumping header after hat-trick hero Clifford crossed from the right.

Clifford then got a quick-fire double, first bundling the ball in after good link up play, then slamming the ball in at the back post after a great set piece routine.

With time running out, United’s Dylan Brown looked to get in on the action, cracking his 40 yard effort off the top of the crossbar as the ball bounced to safety. 

Ritchie rounded off the scoring with a hat-trick off his own, instinctively forcing the rebound home after the ball cannoned off the crossbar as United ran out comfortable winners.