Match Report

A crazy 90 second spell saw Dumbarton suffer a third loss in four games with defeat to Kelty Hearts.

Boss Frank McKeown rang the changes after a below par loss to Edinburgh City a week previous as Ally Spalding earned his first start, joined by Deryn Lang and the free-from-suspension Kai Kirkpatrick in the starting 11.

Josiah Sowa, Scott Tomlinson and Owen Hartington dropped to the bench, where they were joined by new signing Robbie Cleary and U20 standout Ben McKenna.

A lively opening saw chances at both ends, as both sides looked to flush a poor result the week previous out of their system.

First Ryan Shanley raced clear from Robbie Cole’s flick for the hosts but was denied by a superb Ali Omar challenge before he could get a shot away.

Sons responded with Omar again involved – as his booming cross was met by the head of Deryn Lang, who couldn’t direct the ball goalwards.

After another Lang header had flashed wide of target, Sons were given the perfect chance to take the lead.

Scott Honeyman’s free-kick found Ali Omar in the area, with his effort handled in the area – and referee Lewis Hogarth pointing to the spot.

Leighton McIntosh stepped up to calmly convert to give Sons the lead.

However the joy lasted less than a minute.

Straight from kick-off Kelty’s Robbie Cole won a free-kick on the edge of the area, with Jamie Hislop’s effort finding a way through the Dumbarton wall and into the bottom corner of Aidan Rice’s net.

And things got even worse for Sons almost immediately.

Lewis Moore was given space to cut inside, and the former Hearts winger deceived the Dumbarton defence with a low daisycutter that left Rice rooted to the spot and trundled into the net.

Incredibly a fourth goal of the game almost arrived minutes after, as Sons went in search of a quickfire leveller of their own.

A ball over the top saw Scott Honeyman lift the ball over stranded Kelty keeper Jamie Smith – but his cross was just too high for McIntosh to direct into the empty net.

Deryn Lang and Honeyman both went close again for Sons, before Ryan Shanley passed up a glorious chance to extend the home side’s lead – as he fired straight at Rice from a great position in the area.

A low key opening to the second-half saw Sons control possession, but have little to show for their efforts. However that almost changed on the hour mark.

Kelty keeper Smith misjudged a Scott Honeyman free-kick with the ball spinning across the face of goal. Kai Kirkpatrick was unable to turn in from inside the six-yard box, before Tommy Robson’s rebound also flashed right across the face of goal – somehow evading every gold shirt.

That nearly proved pivotal as Kelty almost caught Sons on the break, but Robbie Cole’s header was denied by the post.

However the reprieve was only temporary.

Sons got themselves into all sorts of trouble at the back, with Ryan Shanley stealing in before squaring for Alex Ferguson to smash into the net.

A sharp Rice save denied former Dumbarton loanee Thomas Falconer a fourth, whilst at the other end two thunderous Scott Honeyman volleys didn’t find the net.

The former Falkirk youngster unleashed a stunning 30 yarder that flashed just wide with keeper Smith at full stretch, before the Kelty number one was well-positioned to block a similar effort from 20 yards – as Sons’ wait for a first win on the road since September edged closer to a full year.

Kelty Hearts 3

19′ Jamie Hislop, 20′ Lewis Moore, 73′ Alexander Ferguson

Yellow cards: 40′ Ryan Shanley, 72′ Alexander Ferguson, 74′ Finn Moffett

Dumbarton 1

16′ (P) Leighton McIntosh

Yellow card: 48′ Kai Kirkpatrick

Referee: Lewis Hogarth
Attendance: 306

Highlights

Post-match reaction