Match Report

Dumbarton’s slow start to the new season continued with defeat against Annan Athletic at Galabank.

Willie Gibson’s second-half penalty and a Keith Watson header did the damage, as the Sons’ run without an away victory stretched into its 12th month.

Missing goalkeeper Aidan Rice with a quad injury that could sideline the Celtic loanee for two months, boss Frank McKeown handed Jack McConnell his full debut – with Connor Campbell also earning a first start in the league.

Sons lined up in a 5-3-2 formation, with Scott Tomlinson partnering Leighton McIntosh in attack – whilst Josh Todd missed out completely against his former side with his partner in labour.

It didn’t take long for the home side to show their threat, as McConnell was called into action inside the opening 10 minutes.

A long-throw from former Son Cammy Clark was only half cleared and dropped to Keith Watson on the edge of the area, with his curling effort superbly touched onto the post by the full stretch keeper.

An even bigger chance arrived shortly after.

Steven Buchanan surged beyond Connor Campbell and cut the ball back for Charlie Maxwell on the edge of the six-yard box. However, with the goal at his mercy, he blazed over the bar.

The chances continued to flow for the home side, with player/boss Willie Gibson’s in-swinging cross just being missed by a number of sliding shirts and dropping just wide of the far post.

Sons were struggling to get a foothold in the game and, other than a penalty shout for a foul on Leighton McIntosh on the edge of the area that was waved away by the referee, the visitors had little to show for their efforts.

On 25 minutes meanwhile another glorious chance came and went for the home side to take the lead. With Maxwell again guilty of a glaring miss.

Again Buchanan was the creator, with his cross met by the diving forward at the far post inside the six-yard box. But he somehow turned the ball wide as the away support breathed another huge sigh of relief.

The second-half started just as the first had, with Sons keeper McConnell in action – as he pawed away Kirk McKnight’s long-range drive.

Another sharp save from the ex-Arbroath keeper then denied another ex-Son – Sena Niang – after he had won back possession and tried his luck from the edge of the area. But the resolve to efforts from former players wouldn’t last much longer.

After struggling to clear a corner Charlie Maxwell drew a foul just inside the box, with 42-year-old Galabankies boss Willie Gibson smashing home from 12 yards.

Sons responded with a raft of changes as Robbie Cleary, Josiah Sowa and Deryn Lang were introduced. And finally managed their first effort on goal just after the hour, but Scott Honeyman’s deflected effort was right at Charlie Albinson in the home goal.

Soon after, it was the home side who put the game to bed.

Gibson’s corner from the right was met by the unchallenged head of Keith Watson, who steered his header beyond McConnell and into the net.

Scott Honeyman twice tried to find a response. But was twice off target – dragging wide from the edge of the box, and then slicing a volley off-target after a decent move had opened up the hosts – as the wait for a first away win of the new campaign went on.

Annan Athletic 2

57′ (P) Willie Gibson, 68′ Keith Watson
Yellow card: 74′ Paul Smith

Dumbarton 0

Yellow cards: 45′ David Craig, 56′ Ally Spalding

Referee: Mark Daly
Attendance: 302

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Highlights

Post match reaction

Match photos

View Tommy Hughes’ photos on Flickr