Rangers goal was perfect way to sign off at Dumbarton for Matthew Shiels

After winning 1-4 at The Rock, Philippe Clement’s team advanced to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup, with the former Ibrox boy scoring a consolation goal against his former employers.

Shiels signed a contract with Cove Rangers, who are presently leading League One, in January, therefore this match was his last one with Dumbarton.

Shiels will have to step up, but after earning invaluable experience in League Two, he is eager to put himself to the test once again.

“It’s not really a secret anymore,” he clarified. My last game must have been that one.

“Losing it is clearly annoying, but people aren’t stupid. They thought the Rangers would prevail.

“It wasn’t meant to be; we were hoping to come out and upset them.” Obviously, getting a goal in my last game was a wonderful thing.

“My entire family was gathered in the corner, and I simply spotted them as I scored.” My family was thrilled because they all love the other side of the city.

“Being able to say I scored a goal in my most recent game was satisfying, and it was made even better by the fact it came against Rangers.”

Before moving to Hamilton, Sheils played for the Rangers from 2018 to 2021. He took pleasure in hanging out with several well-known people on the weekends.

There were two, he stated. I traveled to Marbella with the first team when I was sixteen or seventeen. James Tavernier and Connor Goldson were present.

“I succeeded in acquiring Ross McCausland, and Big Robby McCrorie was a few years my senior.

“There weren’t too many. It was also beneficial because Brian Gilmour was one of my coaches in my younger years.

Prior to the game, no communication took place. I greeted them and had a little conversation with them right before they emerged to view the pitch.

“It would have been beneficial to achieve my goal a little bit sooner and perhaps add some interest.”

“At that point, the score was 3-0, so much work remained if we wanted to draw the game again. It was not meant to be.

Sheils thinks that if Dumbarton had taken their chances, the result of the cup match on Saturday might have been different.

“It could have been very different,” he went on. Both teams use the same pitch. Playing on it is challenging, and we’re definitely more accustomed to it.

It was rather helpful. I believe the score might have been higher if the match had taken place at Ibrox.

“It was good to play against top class players and try and do your best against them. I thought a lot of the boys did that.”

On his imminent move to Cove Rangers, Sheils added: “When I first signed with Dumbarton, that was the goal – to try and get back up the leagues having come down from Hamilton.

“I said that to the gaffer, he knew and was fine with it. I’m just waiting to see what happens now and we can go from there.

“It comes down to me now, being consistent every week and going from there.

“In the summer, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was biding my time. Me and Mikey Doyle were out running every day and in the gym.

“He got his move up to Cove so I don’t know if that’s got anything to do with me getting up there!”