Saturday 23rd February 2019
DUMBARTON held out for a 4-3 win against East Fife at Methil this afternoon, with a Dom Thomas hat-trick and a Calum Gallagher goal sealing a crucial three points in what turned out to be a topsy-turvy contest.
Sons were comfortably in front by the break, despite the hosts starting out as the better side.
On 20 minutes a hopeful ball forward was flicked on by Gallagher and smashed into the top corner of the net by Thomas to give the visitors the lead.
Then on 36 minutes the roles were reversed. A clever pass from Thomas saw Gallagher in on goal and he finished smartly to make it 2-0.
Three minutes before the break Dumbarton were 3-0 up. It was another terrific finish from Thomas, this time firing into the far corner from a tight angle.
Early in the second half it could have been four, but Thomas was denied by the goalkeeper’s foot.
Then East Fife came back into it. A quick pass out to the left and a cross from there was met and crashed home by Pat Slattery for 3-1 on 54 minutes.
Five minutes later another cross from the left was nodded in by ex-Son Kevin Smith to make it 3-2. It was not looking so comfortable for Sons now.
Thomas sealed his Dumbarton hat trick on 63 minutes. Yet again it was an amazing strike from the edge of the box that flew past the goalie for 4-2.
But the hosts immediately went down the other wing for Dowds to score from close range and pull back the East Fife deficit to one goal again.
The pressure came from the hosts towards the end of the game, but a red card for Kane after a foul on Thomas eased things a little bit, and Dumbarton held out for a morale-boosting 4-3 victory and two straight wins on the road.
Next up in the League One campaign is Tuesday night’s home game against Raith Rovers at the C&G Systems Stadium.
Full match report, match photos, further reaction and SonsTV online.
Simon Barrow