Saturday 7th August 2021
A BLISTERING fightback by Dumbarton earned them a draw against visitors Airdrieonians on a wet afternoon at the Rock.
Sons entered the first home cinch League One match of the new season without keeper Sam Ramsbottom, who was self-isolating as a close contact. Callum Erskine took his place, with Ryan Hanley from Dumbarton United on the subs bench.
Andy Geggan and Paul Paton were on the bench after recovering from injury, and they were joined by a trialist. The visitors line-up included ex-Sons Calum Gallagher, Dylan Easton, Adam Frizzell, Rico Quitongo and Sam Wardrop, with Scott Agnew on the bench.
The first chance fell to Edin Lynch, but his shot went over the bar. The visitors took the lead in the 17th minute when a Gabby McGill header looped into the net, and five minutes later the same player had a goalbound shot blocked by Gregor Buchanan. At the other end Kalvin Orsi shot wide after a Stuart Carswell break.
In the 36th minute Conner Duthie cleared a Gallagher shot off the line, but Ian Murray’s men continued to dominate in the rain until half-time.
Just after the restart keeper Erskine felled Airdrie’s new signing Callum Smith, and Rhys McCabe made it 2-0 from the penalty spot. Then a deflected shot from McCabe went just past the post. A minute later Geggan came on for Duthie.
In the 60th minute Wardrop was sent off for a second yellow card for a late challenge on Ross MacLean, and Geggan and Quitongo were yellow-carded in the row which followed. Nine minutes later Kris Syvertsen replaced Sam Muir, then Callum Wilson came on for Lynch.
Sons pulled a goal back in the 80th minute when Ryan McGeever (pictured) headed home a corner. Five minutes later a cross from the right was headed back across goal by MacLean, but there were no takers.
The equaliser arrived when Geggan netted four minutes from time with a volley from the edge of the box — making him only the third player to score for Sons in three decades after Robert Speedie and Ross Forbes.
Donald Fullarton