Match Report

A goal in second-half stoppage time prevented ten-man Dumbarton from picking up their first three points of the season against Annan Athletic.

James Hilton had put Sons ahead in the opening 10 minutes but when goalkeeper Brett Long was sent off on 18 minutes, the visitors looked to be up against it for the remainder of the game.

They looked fairly comfortable, however, with shots from distance the closest that the hosts got to finding a leveller as substitute ‘keeper Luke Smallwood – the 16-year-old was making his debut after Long’s dismissal – handled everything that was thrown his way like a seasoned pro.

It looked as if Stevie Farrell’s side had done enough until a low cross from the right was met by Paul McGowan to earn the Galabankies a point.

After a number of changes were made to the side for the SPFL Trust Trophy clash with Peterhead last week, Farrell reverted to the side that started in their last league match against Kelty Hearts a fortnight previous.

And it was a bright start from the away side, Matty Shiels dinked in a cross for Finlay Gray in the opening seconds but Jamie Smith in the Annan goal pushed his header behind for a corner.

Sons were eventually awarded for their positive opening to the game on nine minutes when a perfect ball over the top of the Annan defence from Carlo Pignatiello was met by James Hilton and he lobbed the onrushing Smith.

Chances followed for Shiels, Cammy Clark and then Craig McGuffie but neither could seriously test Smith as the visitors looked to add to their advantage.

The game changed on 18 minutes when a ball from the Annan midfield was latched on to by Luca Ross, he burst away from Mark Durnan and was then met by a sliding challenge from Long who had advanced 30-yards from goal.

The judgement from referee – and former Dunfermline Athletic, Accrington Stanley and Hibernian shotstopper – Sean Murdoch was a foul, and that decision was followed up with a red card to the Sons number one.

With regular deputy goalkeeper Paddy O’Neil unavailable, 16-year-old Luke Smallwood from the clubs under-20’s side was called upon as he replaced goalscorer Hilton.

His first task was to deal with the resulting free-kick, and he did so in a comfortable manner as he collected Aidan Smith’s attempt.

He was called upon further but dealt with a couple of crosses right on top of him and made a brilliant double save to maintain his sides lead before the interval.

If anything, Dumbarton should have been further in front – one header from Durnan was collected by Smith but the most blatant of the chances fell to Shiels when Michael Ruth put the ball across goal for him six-yards out but he shot straight at the goalkeeper on the stroke of half-time.

In the second-half, there was another golden opportunity to extend the lead. Ruth picked out Shiels once again to send him through one on one but Smith denied him again.

Smallwood was kept relatively busy with shots from distance but was well protected by his teammates who were putting in a power of work on and off the ball.

The hosts finally found a way through on 92 minutes when McGowan was well placed to fire into an empty net from six-yards after a low cross from the right and continue the drawing streak for Dumbarton.

It’s now six league draws in a row – a club record – ahead of the visit of Montrose next weekend.