Dumbarton1–1Airdrie United

DUMBARTON claimed another point in their league campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Airdrie United at the Rock.

With four bookings and a sending-off for the visitors and three yellow cards for Sons, and several knocks and minor injuries, the game was certainly competitive.

Both teams had a number of good chances, but the home side ultimately failed to capitalise on the numerical advantage they enjoyed for the majority of the game.

The match took some time to develop, with the Diamonds having most of the early possession. Then on 19 minutes Mark Gilhaney broke through for Sons. His shot forced a good low, diving save at the post from Conor Fairley in the United goal.

On 22 minutes Bryan Prunty set up Pat Walker with a clever back-heel flick, but the striker could not quite squeeze a shot through the well-organised opposition defence.

For Airdrie United, Rhys Devlin produced an extraordinary arcing effort from 25 yards out on the edge of the pitch. However, Dumbarton 'keeper Stephen Grindlay (pictured) was up to the challenge, back-peddling skilfully to make the first of a series of important saves throughout the match.

Then Sons found themselves 1-0 ahead on 29 minutes, when Craig Hill fouled Walker in the area and Gilhaney converted the spot-kick, just beating Fairley, who got a hand to the ball.

The lead did not last long. Eight minutes later, as Dumbarton sought to press their advantage, they were caught out by a swift counter-attack. Devlin was the provider, as Jamie Stevenson slotted past an advancing Grindlay and last man Martin McNiff, who almost cleared from the goal line – but not quite.

Diamonds' left-back Jamie Bain almost made things worse for Sons with a fine strike a couple of minutes later. Then some frantic action in the visitors' area gave Walker another half-chance.

On 40 minutes Airdrie United were down to ten men. As Prunty pulled away for Dumbarton, Kevin Green caught his ankle and sent him flying. Referee David Somers produced his red card straight away.

Free-kick specialist Scott Agnew had a 25-yard opportunity to put Sons in front just before half-time, but this time the dead-ball magic eluded him.

After the break, Airdrie United, unfazed by being a man down, went straight onto the offensive and pinned Dumbarton back – with the home side looking rather narrow, and starting the second half with a lower line than they had deployed in the opening period.

Both goalkeepers produced fine side-on saves from dangerous looking shots as Sons pushed back, but neither side could find a breakthrough.

Fairley frustrated the home side on a number of occasions. Fraser Keast also threw away a good opportunity for Airdrie United – his shot from a central position heading safely into Grindlay's arms.

On 60 minutes Tony Wallace came on for Kevin Nicoll, as Dumbarton gaffer Alan Adamson tried to modify the formula. The home side tried to break with pace, but attacks broke down regularly as long balls failed to find their man.

Up front, Prunty gave way to David Winters for Sons on 69 minutes. The substitute striker suffered in a nasty, accidental head-clash and had to continue for 20 minutes with a large bandage, as did United's Sean Lynch.

A low shot from Ryan Donnelly in the six-yard box was well blocked by solid Sons defender Alan Lithgow.

Dumbarton came close to stealing the game three times in the closing period of the game. First, Agnew flashed a hard, fast shot against the crossbar. Then Ross McKinnon and James Creaney split the Diamonds' defence with fine crosses, the latter almost turned in by a Lithgow volley on 87 minutes.

In the end, however, no further goals were added to the score sheet in the second half, with a draw seeming a fair reflection of the game overall.