Dumbarton1–1Stranraer

Dumbarton rounded off their cinch League Two season for the 2022/23 campaign with a 1-1 draw against Stranraer.

In a game that didn’t mean a whole lot to both teams with Sons already secured second spot and possibly an eye on the play-offs getting under way just a few days later, Edin Lynch headed home his first goal for the club after Peter Grant’s own goal put the visitors ahead, who themselves had already ensured survival after two wins in the last couple of games.

Boss Stevie Farrell took the opportunity to make the most of his squad, making a number of changes from the side that lost in Elgin last week.

Lynch, Gregg Wylde, Joe McKee, Finlay Gray and Russell McLean all came into the starting eleven – whilst 16-year-old Luca Vata was also handed his first start for the club.

Dumbarton were presented the first opportunity of the game when visiting goalkeeper Luke Scullion handed outside his area and McKee had a strike from 20-yards come back off the wall.

Stranraer should have taken the lead on eight minutes when a quick corner created space for Josh Walker who pulled the ball back across goal to be met by Scott Robertson from close range but he couldn’t find the target with the goal gaping.

Ally Love was sent through on goal for Dumbarton midway through the half, and whilst his touch was good and sent him into a promising position, his strike was easy for the Stranraer defence to deal with.

The away side took the lead on 25-minutes when an in-swinging corner struck the inside of the post and bounced off the unfortunate Grant before rolling into the net.

It only took a few minutes for the home side to respond as a corner of their own, delivered by Wylde, was met by Lynch at the back post who crashed a header into the net.

There was still time before the break for a few efforts from Finlay Gray who had one strike gathered by Scullion and he pulled the Stranraer shotstopper into a more impressive save with his next attempt after a shot from 25-yards before another look for goal was pushed behind.

After the break, only a couple of inches prevented Dumbarton from taking the lead when Love was sent in behind the defence and whilst Scullion got something on his lobbed shot, the ball bobbled towards goal and was hacked off the line.

Sons had the best opportunities in the remainder of the half as substitute Gregor Buchanan couldn’t find the target from close range and Love’s header across goal, that looked destined for the net, was headed over the Stranraer crossbar.

Attention for Dumbarton now turns to the first-leg of the cinch League One play-off semi-final at Annan Athletic on Tuesday before the return leg just a couple of days later on Saturday.