Saturday 16th April 2016
DESPITE a strong start and finish, Dumbarton let points against Raith Rovers slip from their grasp on a sunny later afternoon, going down 3-2 at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium.
The game started evenly, with few chances at either end. But gradually Sons began to look more in control, pressing forward with style.
On 12 minutes a great ball from Tom Walsh found Christian Nade. He trapped it, turned, and fired home from close range to put the home side into the lead.
What followed was a good, confident first half performance from Dumbarton, but no further scoring before the break.
It was a different story in the second half. Raith started determinedly, and within minutes were back on level terms. A defensive lapse let Ryan Hardie in to beat Jamie Ewings.
Aidan Connolly put the away side into the lead on the hour, thanks to a great strike from 20 yards out.
On 70 minutes James Craigen found himself with time on the edge of the area to curl the ball past Ewings to make it 3-1 for Rovers.
Young Donald McCallum came on for Dumbarton with just under 15 minutes left, as the men from the Rock attempted to turn the game around. Nade also had to go offer after a nasty knock.
It was not to be, sadly — despite an amazing flourish that lead to Steven Saunders scoring a second deep into time added on.
The defeat in front of BBC Alba cameras leaves Sons still five points clear of Livingston with three matches left in the struggle to retain a place in the Championship.
Full match report, Sons TV and comment to follow. Match photos now online.
Simon Barrow