Saturday 26th August 2017
THE Championship clash with on-form Dunfermline Athletic proved just as tough as many had predicted for Dumbarton, as the visitors coasted to a comprehensive 4-0 victory at the YOU Radio 103FM Stadium this afternoon.
After an early effort off the post and one off the line, Cardle buried the ball into the net to give the Pars an a lead on just four minutes.
That doubled to 2-0 shortly before the half hour, when Dunfermline broke from a Dumbarton corner and Higganbotham got the final touch to score.
The pressure from the visitors continued until the break. The Pars were soon in cruise control in the second half, too.
On the hour Ally Roy went down in the box, but nothing was given by the referee. Twelve minutes later Craig Barr struck the woodwork with a ferocious shot. That was the closest Sons came to scoring.
With 15 minutes to go Dumbarton went down to ten men when captain Andy Dowie was shown a second yellow card.
Dunfermline wrapped up the match on 88 minutes, as Clark headed home at the back post for 3-0.
A fourth came shortly after, when the Pars’ Ryan put the ball home at the end of a slick move.
Craig Barr, who also came close with header, was rightly named Sonstrust Man of the Match for Dumbarton, in what was otherwise a disappointing afternoon.
The result leaves Sons in eighth place in the Ladbrokes Championship, with two points from the first four games. Dunfermline Athletic go top.
Full match report, reaction and SonsTV to follow. Match photos now online.
Simon Barrow