Saturday 24th September 2016
DUMBARTON made a remarkable recovery from a three-goal first half deficit against Raith Rovers in Kirkcaldy this afternoon, but in the end the home side held on for a 3-2 win.
Despite a couple of early corners for Sons it was Raith who pressed hardest and looked most threatening up front, as the visitors’ defence hesitated.
The hosts went ahead on the quarter hour, as Kevin McHattie found space down the left and finished smartly into the far corner for the opening goal.
With half an hour on the clock Sons come agonisingly close to equalising. A free kick was whipped in and just put wide by Daniel Harvie on the near post.
Then it all went wrong. Lax defending let in Ross Callachan, whose shot was deflected to wrong foot Dumbarton keeper Alan Martin for 2-0 to Raith.
Shortly afterwards it was three. A shot from Scott Roberts on the edge of the box crashed off the post and went into the top corner.
In the second half Sons’ Martin made a couple of good saves to avoid further damage, while at the other end a Robert Thomson back-heel on goal was blocked and another effort held.
Then on 71 minutes Dumbarton came back into the game. Good build-up play created an opportunity for sub Ryan Stevenson to hammer home from range to make it 3-1.
Six minutes later Sons were right back in the match. Raith failed to clear a cross ball and Robert Thomson was on hand to stab in a second for the visitors.
The closing spell was a desperate scramble by both sides to claim the spoils. In the end Raith held on to claim all three points and Dumbarton’s Gregor Buchanan was red-carded for a second bookable offence.
Full match report, comment, and Sons TV to follow. Match photos now online.
Simon Barrow