Dumbarton1–1Peterhead

AFTER 42 minutes, it all looked on course.

The sun was shining, Dumbarton were dominating and led through an outstanding Joshua Oyinsan goal. What a day to reduce the gap at the bottom.

And then a free header sent them crashing back to square one again.

The day was not a disaster. No further goals and a share of the points means that Sons are four points adrift of the Blue Toon with three games remaining.

But what might have been. And while Dumbarton now have a double header away to the only two sides who can win cinch League One this season, Peterhead have two home fixtures, one against the side well adrift at the bottom.

Sons showed plenty of endeavour and spirit, and, the goal apart, plenty of defensive solidity which has served them well of late.

And it is to be hoped that those continue despite how tough the coming schedule looks on paper. At this stage, though, it is about whether you put the ball in the net more times than the other team. Hopefully that can happen too.

While the first five minutes has been a hazardous time for Dumbarton of late, what a start in the fifth minute this time around.

After Conner Duthie dispossessed a Peterhead defender, the ball came Oyinsan's way 20 yards out and he thrashed it into the corner.

Sons dominated possession from there but struggled to make it count. Conner Duthie was just too high with a couple of efforts, while Kalvin Orsi made space on the edge of the area but his shot was saved.

They had seen most of Peterhead's attacking play clear, but the concession of a corner two minutes from half time had disastrous consequences.

McLean was given a free header, and made no mistake.

It was not what Dumbarton needed ahead of the visitors having the wind advantage in the second half, but right after the restart they had a glorious opportunity.

Orsi sent the ball across goal, with Gregor Buchanan just too late to tap it home.

Equally to the first half, Sons had plenty of the ball during the second half but struggled to look like scoring. They also relied on Kieran Wright to make some simple, but nonetheless important, saves.

When a Gregor Buchanan header dropped to Stuart Carswell in the area with 15 minutes left, it looked promising, but the skipper shot over.

Peterhead's Jack Brown then found a way to goal, but although Kieran Wright was beaten, Pat Boyle was there to clear.

Then with two minutes left, a corner came the way of George Stanger in a crowded penalty area. His header was on target, but brilliantly saved.

It was hard not to feel some sort of missed opportunity, especially with Clyde, yet to visit the Rock for a second time and five points ahead, losing at Alloa.

But it is not all over either.