Dumbarton1–5Annan Athletic

Injury-hit Sons fell 17 points from safety after being hit for five by a rampant Annan at The Rock.


Already missing talisman Michael Ruth, Carlo Pignatiello and Jinky Hilton with injuries, Sons also went into the game missing skipper Mark Durnan and keeper Brett Long through suspension - and were dealt a further blow when Mikey Miller limped off after 10 minutes.


And, despite a bright start, Stevie Farrell’s patched-up side could do nothing to stop fellow strugglers Annan surging to three points that makes survival in League Two look a huge ask.


Boss Farrell made three changes from the side that had been beaten 4-0 by Stenhousemuir a week previous as Paddy O’Neil, Mikey Miller, Matty Shiels all came into the side.


With the pitch at the Marbill Coaches Stadium showing all the scars of winter, it was Sons who started the brighter team 


Ex-Galabankie Tony Wallace floated a header straight at visiting keeper Jamie Smith before Joel Mumbongo’s spectacular bicycle kick flew over the bar.


Losing full-back Mikey Miller to injury didn’t look to impact the home side’s rhythm as a Mumbongo forced Smith into an awkward clearance - Tony Wallace attempted to lob the keeper with the ball then dropping to Craig McGuffie, but his effort was blocked on the line with Smith stranded.


A powerful Mumbongo run then saw the Swedish forward burst in on goal, but his shot was blocked by the sliding Paul Smith and floated into the arms of Annan keeper Smith.


At the other end Annan’s Max Kilsby flashed a shot across the face of goal, before the lively Mumbongo was again denied his first Sons goal by Smith.


After growing into the game and starting to control possession, Annan took the lead just after the half hour - and it was almost in spectacular fashion.


Max Kilsby surged down the left and delivered a cross that was acrobatically sent goalwards by a spectacular Josh Dixon scorpion kick, Sons keeper Paddy O’Neil pushed away the ball - but only as far as Paul Smith who tucked home.


The hosts almost found an immediate response as Craig McGuffie’s corner caused panic in the Annan defence and landed at the feet of Mumbongo, but he lashed off target.


And that proved vital as the Galabankies quickly doubled their lead. Tommy Muir tempted Ethan Brown into a foul in the box, with ex-Son Willie Gibson calmly sending Paddy O’Neil the wrong way from 12 yards.


Things could’ve got worse on the stroke of half-time as referee Dan McFarlane waved away strong penalty shouts for the visitors after Muir again appeared to be upended in the box after a breakdown in communication at the back for Sons.


After escaping at one end, Sons quickly broke with Mumbongo and a clever Sena Niang pass sent Finlay Gray clear - with his cute chip over Smith being stabbed into the net by Niang from point blank range to restore hope.


However that was quickly extinguished early in the second-half as Annan player/boss Gibson’s long free-kick was nodded goalwards by the outstanding Muir who was denied by O’Neil, but Rhys Breen reacted first to stab in the rebound.


Ex-Son Josh Todd was next to go close as burst in one-on-one with O’Neil, but a mixture of the keeper and Aron Lynas denied the Englishman.


It was a sign of what was to come however as the visitors added a fourth with a terrific flowing move, that eventually saw Muir unselfishly square for the onrushing Aidan Smith to tuck beyond O’Neil.


And Muir - who had played a vital role in three of his side’s four goals - finally got on the scoresheet himself with 15 minutes remaining.


Paul Smith’s cross was knocked down by Ryan Muir to the versatile forward, who took a touch before arrowing across O’Neil and into the top corner of the net from 12 yards.