Dumbarton2–1Elgin City

MAY 2009 it certainly was not.

Back then, Dumbarton roared to a 6-0 victory over Elgin City. In August 2022, it was clear, long before the visitors took the lead, that this was going to be a closer contest.

Kane Hester's goal for Elgin was a fair enough reflection of a first half lacking in clear chances, but where the away side looked the more dangerous.

But decent sides find a way. Sons' way was via the penalty spot, and the boot of Ally Love.

In the ninth minute of the second half, he put away his second penalty of the afternoon, three minutes after he netted his first.

It was ragged stuff for the rest of the afternoon - plenty effort but little sign of either side adding to their scoresheet.

History-making Dumbarton had done enough. Club history tumbled after they became the first Sons side in 150 years - not all of those spent playing league football - to start a league season with five consecutive wins.

Five is also the magic number for the number of points between them and the team in second place, as they ended a third straight weekend at the top of cinch League Two.

How long can they stay there? How long can this run go on? Maybe at East Fife next week, maybe not. We will know soon enough if Dumbarton will find a way to win there.

The opening 26 minutes of this game will not live long in the memory, with the two goalkeepers having not a save to make between them.

That changed in the 27th, in controversial fashion. An Elgin defender seemed to rescue the ball from over the touchline, but play was allowed to continue.

That resulted in the visitors breaking forward, and Hester finding the net with a composed finish from 12 yards.

A Joe McKee effort crashed back off the bar, but the pressure did not last through to half time. Neither did McKee, as soon after he hobbled off with a hamstring injury.

Six minutes into the second half, things began to turn. As a corner came into the box, Gregor Buchanan was hauled to the ground by his opposite number at centre half, Jake Dolzanski.

Penalty it was after no advantage accrued, and Love stepped up to score.

Three minutes was all it took for things to kick on from there, this time Tom Findlay being penalised for a foul on Aron Lynas in the box.

Love, again, found the net from the spot, and now Dumbarton were where they wanted to be.

Ryan Wallace, soon after coming on as a substitute, was unlucky not to make it 3-1 with 20 minutes left, his shot being well saved.

After that, a third goal looked less and less likely, but so did an equaliser for the visitors. Whatever they could throw at Dumbarton, it was beaten back by another committed display from the defence.

And with the minutes run down, it was five out of five. History had been made.