Montrose2–2Dumbarton

Dumbarton left Montrose with just a point to show for an impressive performance, in a game where rookie keeper Shay Kelly saved two penalties in little over a minute.

 

Owen Stirton was twice denied from 12 yards by the on loan St Mirren teen, with referee Iain Sneddon controversially ordering a retake after the first save - and Stirton stabbing in the rebound after the second.

 

Sons then found themselves denied what appeared a stonewall spot kick of their own, before Carlo Pignatiello levelled just before half-time.

 

Tony Wallace made it third time lucky from the spot as he converted midway through the second-half, before Aidan Quinn’s booming late header rescued a point for the playoff threatened hosts.

 

With Milosz Sliwinski recalled by parent club Queen’s Park, keeper Kelly was one of eight changes made from the side that had lost against Cove Rangers a week previous.

 

Early signs were promising as Jinky Hilton flashed a free-kick from an acute angle into the side netting, before a driving Kristian Webster run saw the Rangers loanee open up space for Hilton - but his shot was charged down.

 

After the early hope Sons then found themselves caught out for a slack moment at the back.

 

Mark Durnan’s pass was intercepted by Owen Stirton who raced in on goal.

 

It looked like he’d taken one touch too many under pressure from Durnan and Aron Lynas, but the Dundee United loan man hit the deck - with referee Sneddon pointing to the spot.

 

Stirton dusted himself down but Shay Kelly went the right way to push the ball clear for a corner, celebrating wildly with his teammates.

 

However referee Sneddon turned party-pooper as he ordered a retake, initially signalling for encroachment before indicating that Kelly had been off his line.

 

Incredibly the 18-year-old saved again from 12 yards, this time touching the ball onto his right-hand post, but Stirton was alert enough to stab home the rebound - to the fury of Sons’ teen stopper.

 

Boss Stevie Farrell found himself booked for his protests, and Sneddon then found himself facing the ire of those in amber almost immediately after - as Carlo Pignatiello drove into the box before being tripped, but appeals from almost every player on the park fell on deaf ears.

 

A miscued Keir Bertie clearance then presented a golden chance for the visitors, but Pignatiello could only fire straight at Mo keeper Cammy Gill.

 

Frustration was growing for the away side, and the loss of Mark Durnan to injury on the half hour looked to disrupt their rhythm, until a well-worked move led to an equaliser just before the break.

 

Sean Dillon’s slack clearance was recycled by Tony Wallace who sent Kalvin Orsi clear down the right, and his low delivery was perfect for the ever-dangerous Pignatiello to stroke into the net.

 

Sons’ started the second-half as they’d ended the first, by putting the ball in the net.

 

Good play from substitute Craig McGuffie sent Jinky Hilton clear, - his shot was saved by Gill but pushed only as far as Kalvin Orsi who stabbed in the rebound, however the assistant’s flag had already been raised.

 

Orsi then turned provider with a neat touch finding Hilton in an area, and the forward danced through a few challenges but lacked power in his final effort.

 

A surging Matty Shiels run then brought the second-half breakthrough Sons had been threatening.

 

The full-back was upended by Kerr Waddell on the edge of the area, with Craig McGuffie’s free-kick not dealt with by the Mo backline - and Michael Gardyne’s clumsy challenge downing Aron Lynas in the box.

 

Tony Wallace stepped up to do what Stirton couldn’t, steering the ball beyond Gill to end a 16 game drought.

 

Montrose looked to hit back by sending an aerial bombardment Dumbarton’s way, but a host of corners came to nothing - before some more inspired goalkeeping from Shay Kelly kept Sons ahead.

 

A slick counter attack saw the Mo work the ball down the left before Graham Webster was presented a golden chance one-on-one with the keeper - but he saved superbly with his legs.

 

There was nothing he could do soon after however as a floating Webster corner was perfect for Aidan Quinn to bullet into the net.

 

Sons’ response was strong and they finished the game almost camped in their opponents half, with Craig McGuffie agonisingly close to a dramatic late winner - but he couldn’t quite stretch to touch in the rebound after Gill had saved from Michael Ruth, meaning the points were shared.