Dumbarton3–4Arbroath

IN an exciting game with opportunities and errors aplenty, Dumbarton were finally defeated at the Rock by assured looking visitors Arbroath, going down 4-3 after having led 3-2 at half time.

"We had a lot of chances and the game could have ended six each," commented Dumbarton gaffer Alan Adamson afterwards.

Sons started confidently, probing and pushing the Red Lichties, and setting out a clear intent to take the match to their opponents. Pat Walker was soon harrying the Arbroath defence.

On five minutes the pressure was rewarded. Bryan Prunty finished neatly after an assist from Walker. Sons continued to drive the game. First Darren Hill saved a driving shot from James Creaney. Then Beau Busch got a foot to a Walker attempt, just turning it over the bar.

On 14 minutes the Red Lichties were level. Lee Sibanda took advantage of some loose defending and curled a beautiful, floating ball past Sons 'keeper Jamie Ewings from 20 yards on the far edge of the area.

Dumbarton looked shocked. Arbroath's impressive striker Gavin Swankie tried to repeat Sibanda's feat, but he was just off target, with Ewings stranded.

Suddenly Sons were ahead again. Seizing on a loose ball in a packed area, Mark Gilhaney made no mistake, slotting home right in front of goal to make it 2-1.

Continued Dumbarton pressure presented Martin McBride with two opportunities to extend the home side's lead. His first shot spilled straight into Hill's arms. The second, a long range attempt from outside the area, raked high and wide.

Arbroath looked dangerous on the break as both sides pursued an attacking strategy. Steven Doris came close before Swankie drew the Red Lichties level with an almost identical goal to the visitors' first. This time it was from a closer, central position, but again delightfully curled.

Gilhaney immediately went on a darting, swivelling solo run for Dumbarton, but his goal attempt was straight at the 'keeper. Swankie and Paul Sherrin had chances for Arbroath, the latter skying the ball over the crossbar.

Then on 38 minutes Kevin Nicoll sneaked in at the near post to put Sons into the lead for the third time in the game. Doris had another opportunity for the visitors before the break, but the half-time score remained 3-2.

Immediately after the restart Dumbarton were caught sleeping by an alert Arbroath attack. A defensive mix-up between Creaney and Martin McNiff spilled the ball to Swankie for his second goal, making it 3-3 on 46 minutes.

The Red Lichties grew in confidence throughout the half and started to dictate the pace of the game from the middle of the park. Ewings denied Swankie a hat-tick with an important save from a swinging shot.

The dangerous looking Sibanda gave way to Pedram Ardallany for the visitors on 59 minutes. Four minutes later Sheering's corner was dropped into a packed Sons area. Several Arbroath players had half-chances, but somehow the ball squirted out harmlessly.

At the other end, Hill made a fine save from a vicious, dipping Scott Agnew shot. Nicoll was booked for an infringement a few moments later, and then on 68 minutes Dumbarton conceded a penalty. Steven Doris drove the ball confidently into the roof of the net to put Arbroath 4-3 in front.

Walker and McBride were replaced by David Winters and Kieran Brannan for Sons, while the Red Lichties replaced Josh Falkingham with Keith Gibson and Swankie with Lee Bryce.

There were chances at both ends in what remained of the game. Ewings made a good, low save from Doris for Arbroath, and Lyden struck a cross-cum-shot which went just over the bar for Dumbarton.

Sons tried hard to claim at least a point. An Agnew free-kick, following a Winters dummy, went wide. Gilhaney forced his way through, but his effort fizzled into the side netting. Lyden stretched to head over the bar with the back of his head.

On 84 minutes Kevin Brown saved Arbroath as the ball skewed across the box and Gilhaney struck again. Graeme Ramage replaced Creaney on 85 minutes. But time eventually ran out for Dumbarton in the quest for an equaliser.

Overall, Sons played some good football. But they remained vulnerable to the precision and quality of Arbroath's counter attacks and prone to slips at the back.