Match Report

A tough season ended on a low note, with a 5-0 defeat to relegation threatened Edinburgh City.

Divine Iserhienrhien’s early opener got the Citizens, who had scored in just one of their previous 13 matches, off to a dream start – before Kai Kirkpatrick saw red for the second game in succession.

A second goal for Iserhienrhien and strikes from Innes Lawson and Cole Williams capped a nightmare first-half for Frank McKeown’s men.

Malik Zaid added a fifth midway through the second-half, on a day where Sons had just a solitary shot on target to show for their efforts.

With a host of players only passing late fitness tests to make the game, boss McKeown welcomed the fit-again Josh Todd, suspension-free Kai Kirkpatrick and former Citizen Jack Duncan back to his starting 11.

Injury ruled out Adam Livingstone and Tobi Joseph whilst Gordon Walker dropped to the bench.

Sons got off to a nightmare start as Airdrieonians loanee Divine Iserhienrhien sprang the offside trap and coolly rolled beyond Brett Long for City’s first goal since March 7.

Dumbarton attempted to hit back through Jack Duncan, but he had a shot charged down on the edge of the area – before looping a header from Josh Todd’s corner narrowly over the bar.

Isherheinheim was then denied one-on-one by Long, before a big decision from referee Daniel Graves swung the game in the home side’s favour with 24 minutes played.

Kai Kirkpatrick caught Innes Lawson on the half-way line as the players challenged for a bouncing ball, with referee Graves immediately producing a red card to the shock of the Sons midfielder.

Lawson dusted himself down to almost immediately double his side’s lead, setting off on a mazy run from a deep position in midfield, hurdling a collection of challenges and rolling into the net.

A third arrived soon after. Twins Dylan and Cole Williams combined inside the area, with Cole having the simplest of tasks to slot home from close range.

That saw Sons boss McKeown turn to his bench, with a triple substitution after 35 minutes – as Scott Tomlinson, Jack Duncan and skipper Mark Durnan made way for Gordon Walker, Ryan Blair and Aaron Brown.

Only a sharp one-on-one save from Long denied Lawson after he had raced in on goal, but the reprieve was temporary as City did add a fourth before half-time.

Iserhienrhien was first in a host of white shirts queuing up in the six yard box to stab home a cutback.

The second-half saw the home side, with one eye on a huge playoff fixture with Brora Rangers, content to keep possession. Albeit they did add a fifth just after the hour.

Jason Jarvis found Malik Zaid in the area, with the Libyan neatly finding space and steering the ball beyond the helpless Brett Long.

Sons’ only chance came soon after, as Ryan Blair went for goal from the half-way line – almost catching out Shea Cowie in the home goal, but the keeper was able to touch the ball onto the bar.

At the other end, only a full stretch save from Long denied Dylan Williams a sixth of the afternoon for Michael McIndoe’s side – with Sons delighted to hear the final whistle, consigning a tough season to the history books.

Edinburgh City 5

6′, 39′ Divine Iserhienrhien, 34′ Innes Lawson, 27′ Cole Williams, 62′ Malik Zaid

Dumbarton 0

Yellow card: 55′ Leighton McIntosh

Red card: 22′ Kai Kirkpatrick

Referee: Daniel Graves

Attendance: 346

View all the results and final table from William Hill League 2 season 2025/26

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