Dumbarton0–0Airdrieonians

AT the peak of the Burns Supper season, about the only person who could have done anything in these conditions was Tam o' Shanter.

The wind did indeed blow as it would blowing its last. Belatedly, we did have rattling showers.

It wasn't really dark enough to swallow the stars, and thunder? Maybe some other time.

Tam at least escaped Kirk Alloway in those conditions. Dumbarton and Airdrieonians couldn't find a net, and very rarely looked like doing so.

There wasn't much doubt about letting the game start but the only likely winner on the day was Storm Ciara.

Effort was plenty, clear chances were few. Most the opportunities there were fell to the Diamonds.

All things considered, Sons could be content with a point, and this was arguably the draw they should have had when they previously hosted Airdrie in September.

Having survived chances for Andy Ryan and Calum Gallagher, the first blocked by Conor Brennan, the second wide, Dumbarton found their feet playing into the strong wind.

Ross Forbes and Ryan McGeever had headed chances, but the former lacked the pace to trouble the keeper and the latter was wide.

Ryan's shot then looped over, and from the resulting corner Brennan made a fine save to push Callum Smith's shot over.

With half time closing in, Sam Wardrop clashed with Gallagher in the Sons area, but the referee showed no interest in the appeals.

Dumbarton had the wind in their favour in the second half and it was hoped they could use that to their advantage.

It started fairly promisingly, with Ruaridh Langan playing Stefan McCluskey through, but his angled shot trundled across goal and wide.

After that it was stop-start ad nauseum. The workrate was never in doubt but the game simply found no rhythm.

Indeed, Brennan had to be on form again to keep out Sean Crighton's effort from a corner.

Creighton tried again, this time with a header, but it was comfortable for Brennan.

Langan had a late chance for Sons, but the keeper reached Wardrop's low cross just ahead of him.

Another Airdrie penalty appeal caused panic in injury time, but once again the official rejected their pleas after Rico Quitongo and Smith seemed to tangle in the area.