Saturday 27th August 2016
DUMBARTON came within four minutes of clinching a crucial draw at Falkirk this afternoon, going down right at the end to a goal from Lee Miller.
Sons started well and came close through Ryan Stevenson and Robert Thomson. Then Falkirk put their passing game together and began to dominate possession.
Keeper Alan Martin produced an amazing save on the half hour, denying John Baird with a one-handed stop while diving the other way.
Eight minutes later he made a similarly athletic block from Miles Hippolyte at point blank range.
After the break Dumbarton came out strong, but the Bairns pressed back as the game swung from end to end, with Sons mainly looking to hit their opponents on the break.
With 15 minutes to go and the match still goalless, Falkirk became increasingly urgent in their forays forward.
Finally, on 86 minutes, with the visitors inches from a precious draw, Lee Miller broke Dumbarton hearts by side-footing past Martin with the winning goal.
Despite today’s loss, Sons are ahead of Falkirk in the SPFL Ladbrokes Championship, sitting fifth to the Bairns’ sixth.
Next up for Sons is a trip to Stranraer next Saturday in the Irn Bru Cup third round.
The next league fixture is at home to Hibernian on Saturday, September 10. Four of the next five league fixtures are at home.
Full match report, match photos and Sons TV now online.
| 1 | Falkirk | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 20 |
| 2 | Partick Thistle | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 14 |
| 3 | Cove Rangers | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 13 |
| 4 | Montrose | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 13 |
| 5 | Dumbarton | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 11 |
| 6 | Airdrieonians | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 10 |
| 7 | Peterhead | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 11 | -3 | 9 |
| 8 | East Fife | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 12 | -4 | 7 |
| 9 | Clyde | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 13 | -9 | 6 |
| 10 | Forfar Athletic | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | -7 | 5 |
Simon Barrow