Saturday 26th April 2014
DUMBARTON produced a superb result for their last home game of the season, storming past title-contenders Hamiliton Accies with three second half goals in an exciting finale at the Bet Butler Stadium.
A game that ended in goalmouth drama and a sending off started warily enough, with both sides knowing they had a lot to gain or lose.
Hamilton had more of the chances in the first half. But it was Scott Agnew who opened the scoring for Sons, as his inswinging free kick skidded past the defence and into the net just beyond the half hour.
Accies’ experienced danger man Jason Scotland levelled the score on 41 minutes, after a well worked move and a low driving shot past Dumbarton ‘keeper Jamie Ewings.
The visitors had a raft of chances at the beginning of the second half, but could not take advantage of them.
The game looked like it was going to end in stalemate until Sons gaffer Ian Murray introduced first Colin Nish after the hour and then Jordan Kirkpatrick 13 minutes later.
Nish struck next, with a simple nod in from the edge of the box after the second of two goalmouth scrambles. Mitch Megginson provided the assist, before adding a third with a fine right-footed strike shortly after Hamilton’s player-manager Alex Neil was shown the red card for violent conduct.
Two minutes later Nish set up Jordan Kirkpatrick for a fourth Dumbarton goal. His shot from the centre of the box beat Accies goalie Kevin Cuthbert and spun into the bottom right corner of the net.
The result was greeted with huge enthusiasm by a vocal home support, including a dozen Sons supporters who had made the journey from Switzerland for the occasion.
The victory has not been quite enough to propel Dumbarton into the promotion play-offs, but sets up a what will hopefully be a pulsating season closer at Dundee next Saturday.
Full match report and photos now online. Apologies for the delayed report, which was due to technical difficulties.
Simon Barrow