Raith Rovers2–1Dumbarton

DUMBARTON had more of the game against Raith Rovers on a wet and windy afternoon in Kirkcaldy, but all three points went to the home side as vital chances were missed by the visitors.

Boss Ian Murray was far from happy after the game, describing the goals Sons conceded as “laughable” – though he clearly wasn't smiling.

With very high winds there had been some doubt about the match, but referee Calum Murray decided to go ahead with a lively game watched by 1,351 in difficult conditions.

That said, both sides showed determination and control from the outset.

For Raith, a right-footed shot from Joe Cardle went high and wide, while Lewis Vaughan had an effort blocked by Andy Graham. Jamie Ewings in the Dumbarton goal stopped a Dougie Hill header.

Rovers achieved three corners within the first seven minutes, but none of them really troubled the Sons.

At the other end, Laidlaw saved a Chris Turner header from the centre of the box.

Then Turner and Bryan Prunty broke away after a Raith attack faltered, but the big front man chipped the ball wide.

On 18 minutes Colin Nish got into position for another attempt on goal, but his header did not threaten the home side. Two minutes later, Aaron Barry also nodded wide.

On 27 minutes, a good effort for Raith by Grant Anderson saw his right-footed effort from outside the area saved by Ewings high in the centre of the goal.

Shortly afterwards, yet another Dumbarton header, this time from Andy Graham, went off target.

Sons were winning corners and free kicks and looked more in control of the game overall, but were unable to capitalize on their advantage.

On 39 minutes, Jordan Kirkpatrick sustained a nasty looking knock. After several minutes of treatment and being moved a few yards off the pitch, he was replaced by Mitch Megginson.

Perhaps the best chance of the game fell to Nish seven minutes before the break. Following a defensive lapse from Rovers, he found himself in a central position with only the 'keeper to beat. But the tall forward could not quite control his shot and it went flying over the bar.

Another header from Nishy went wide just before half time. Raith's Calum Eliot also hit the ball fiercely at the Dumbarton goal from the right, but his strike flew beyond the left-hand post.

In the second half Sons came out of the blocks with pace and aggression. More chances soon followed.

First Turner and then Prunty had shots on Rovers' goal saved and blocked, respectively.

The momentum was clearly swinging in Sons' direction, but they just could not find the target in the final third.

Then just as the visitors were starting to assert their dominance, Raith struck a killer blow.

After the ball was given away once again, a fast overlapping Rovers breakaway down the left caught Dumbarton on the hop.

Callum Booth crossed the ball, and youngster Lewis Vaughan was there to knock it home to make the score 1-0 to the home side on 51 minutes.

Sons pressed straight back. Paul McGinn tried a right-footed shot from a central position, but missed to the left. A further attempt from Colin Nish was thwarted by a defender.

There was no little initiative from the visitors as the second half proceeded, but they were still not getting the breaks.

Just before the hour there was what looked as if it might be a defining moment for the game. Raith Rovers' Joe Cardle rushed in to challenge Dumbarton's Mark Gilhaney, who was typically causing the home side trouble on the flank.

Cardle's tackle was rash and dangerous. His foot went crunching into Gilhaney's stomach. The referee had no alternative but to produce a red card and reduce Raith to ten men with half an hour still left on the clock.

Could Sons take advantage of the situation? The away side began to swarm forward, looking for that precious equalizer.

An Andy Graham header was saved. Hugh Murray won a free kick in an advancing position. Mark Gilhaney saw a good shot fly agonizingly high and wide. It was a busy period.

Mitch Megginson also pushed hard at the Raith back line. It looked as if a Sons goal might only be a matter of time. Garry Fleming came on for Murray on 70 minutes to add to the pressure.

But Raith had not given up by any means. Ewings had to get down sharpish to stop an effort from Ross Callachan. Then Vaughan called forth a second save from the Sons 'keeper.

On 74 minutes Raith Rovers produced a classic sucker punch to take the match beyond Sons' reach.

A Dumbarton attack broke down. A swift counter-attack from the home side produced a four-on-one situation. Vaughan crossed and Jason Thomson was there to make it 2-0 to Rovers.

Gaffer Ian Murray responded by bringing on Steven McDougall in place of Bryan Prunty.

However, on 80 minutes Chris Turner had to return to the bench injured. Dumbarton had used up all their substitutes already, so the game went down to ten men apiece.

There proved to be no way back for Sons after the blow of a second Raith goal. However, there was some hope late on, when Steven McDougall, set up by Garry Fleming, fired home a great shot into the right-hand corner of the net to make it 2-1.

But with less than a minute of normal time left, it proved too late for an equalizer.

A second defeat in a row keeps Dumbarton in eighth position in the SPFL Championship, with tough games against Hamilton Accies at home and Dundee away due before the end of the year.