Brechin City2–2Dumbarton

DUMBARTON continued their recent run of excellent form with a 2-2 draw away to Brechin, despite going 2-0 down before half time.

Brechin were 2-0 up in the first half thanks to goals from Paul McManus and Rory McKenzie, but Dumbarton levelled with two set piece goals after the break.

Bryan Prunty pulled one back from a penalty, and Scott Agnew fired in a trademark free kick to share the points.

Dumbarton kicked off, and moments later the first chance of the game arrived. James Creaney's throw-in was controlled by Ally Graham and laid out to top scorer Prunty, who fired off the bar from an acute angle. The ball took a deflection on the way through which affected its flight path.

From the resulting corner, Brechin stopper Craig Nelson came to punch the ball away, but missed it. The ball fell to Graham's feet, and his shot was cleared off the line for another corner.

Brechin threatened for the first time on the ten minute mark. Rory McKenzie bombed down the wing, and chipped in a ball for striker Jim Lister that was comfortably caught by 'keeper Stephen Grindlay.

Dumbarton threatened again when Tony Wallace's left-footed drive took a deflection on the way through to the keeper, which perhaps made it easier for Nelson in the goal.

Sons went on a swift counter attack, and the ball found its way to Graham. He turned very well in the box, but ex-son Mick Dunlop was there in time to slide the ball clear, and stop it getting to Prunty for a tap in.

Two minutes later, it was 1-0 to Brechin. Garry Brady played through ex-son Johnny Lindsay on the left hand wing, and his cross was volleyed home by Paul McManus to give the Hedgemen an unexpected lead.

From here on in, it was one-way traffic towards Grindlays goal. On 33 minutes the homes side got the goal they deserved to increase their lead to 2-0.

A long free kick was headed out wide, it found the unmarked Rory McKenzie and he unleashed a brilliant overhead kick, across Shay's body and into the bottom left hand corner.

Dumbarton woke up a little after this, forcing a series of corners. However, they could not get the break of the ball they were looking for.

Sons forced another chance when Prunty and Graham linked up, but Graham could not adjust his feet and his shot was tame and easily held by Nelson.

After the break, it looked like a different Dumbarton side. Sons were trying to play the ball out to the wings, instead of looking up and having a shot.

Brechin did have the ball in the net again, but the assistant's flag went up, much to the visitors' joy.

Moments later, Prunty wriggled through the Brechin defence and was pulled down by Lindsay. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The big No. 9 stepped up and fired low and hard in to the goal. Brechin 2-1 Dumbarton.

By this time it was all Sons. Kevin Nicoll and Pat Walker replaced Tony Wallace and Ally Graham. Nicoll's first action was a first time long-range drive that was destined for the bottom corner, but it was tipped away by Nelson.

Dumbarton got their well deserved equaliser on 73 minutes. Good work from Lamont, cutting in and going past several players won Sons a free kick 20 yards out. Agnew stepped up and did what he does best, curling it into the top corner. Unstoppable.

The visitors continued to create many chances, in a concerted effort to find the winner. Mark Gilhaney on the wing had cut in, and the ball was parried by Nelson almost in to the path of sub Walker.

James Creaney then picked up a booking, which means he will miss the East Fife game on 17th March.

The best chance for Dumbarton came when Prunty fired inches wide, after Agnew's long-range shot. This would certainly have won the game, but as the full time whistle blew, the spoils were shared between the two clubs. Sons now remain unbeaten in ten games.