SONS EDGE PAST 9-MAN STENNY

11-Feb-2012

DUMBARTON breathed a sigh of relief when the final whistle went at Ochilview with them 2-1 ahead of battling Stenhousemuir.

Facing nine men for two-thirds of the game after two home defenders were red-carded and manager Davie Irons was sent to the stand for dissent, Sons struggled to turn domination into goals.

Soon after the second sending off, centre half Alan Lithgow rose to head home a Mark Gilhaney corner, and just before half-time a Bryan Prunty chip was deflected into his own net by full back Devlin.

With a two goal and a two man advantage, Dumbarton were expected by a large contingent of travelling fans to run riot in the second half, but it did not work out that way.

They were in complete control for most of it, but shot wide or straight at home keeper Brown. Meanwhile two ex-Sons, Andy Rodgers and Motherwell loanee Gary Smith, were always fast and dangerous on the break, and in the 76th minute Smith beat keeper Stephen Grindlay with a fine angled drive to make the score 2-1.

That cat was now among the pigeons, and Stenny had new belief as they broke forward with menace. At the other end Sons passed up numerous chances or were foiled by the keeper, though one effort hit the post and bounced out.

At the end the final whistle was more of a relief to Dumbarton than Stenny's battling nine.