Kelty Hearts0–6Dumbarton

Dumbarton racked up their biggest away win for 14 years with a devastating showing against Kelty Hearts.

 

For the first time since 1957 the Sons had six different players on the scoresheet, as they sworded Charlie Mulgrew’s Kelty to record a first six goal victory on the road since August 2011 against East Fife.

 

And boss Stevie Farrell believed that a comfortable win shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone who has watched his side - despite their lowly league position.

 

He said: “It’s been coming, I’ve said that all season. If you look at the stats going forward we’re one of the best teams in the league.

 

“We’re a great team on the eye, things have not gone our way and we haven’t defended well.

 

“But that performance had been coming and that scoreline had been coming. Someone was going to take that from us. We were excellent.”

 

The rotations continued for boss Farrell as he rang the changes after ending a winless start to the year against Alloa.

 

Aron Lynas, Cammy Clark, Kalvin Orsi, Ryan Blair, Sena Niang, Tony Wallace and Joel Mumbongo all returned to start.

 

Greig Young, Finlay Gray, Jinky Hilton, Craig McGuffie, Michael Ruth and Mikey Miller dropped to the bench with the fit-again Matty Shiels also named amongst the subs. David Wilson dropped out altogether.

 

In perfect conditions for a game the opening exchanges saw both sides enjoy plenty of the ball, albeit without creating much worth of note.

 

A sharp counter-attack from the hosts would be as close as either side came, with Ross Cunningham off target from a good position on the edge of the box.

 

Dumbarton looked like a side who had taken plenty of confidence from the victory at Alloa and were enjoying playing on a wide astroturf park. With a patient run in possession eventually leading to the opening goal.

 

Tony Wallace held up play down the left and found Kalvin Orsi, who dug out a cross for Joel Mumbongo to ghost in front of Kelty keeper Ruairdh Adams and glance into the net.

 

Seven minutes later the two players combined again for a stunning second goal.

 

Orsi picked up possession inside his own half before setting off on a trademark mazy run, he worked his way to the edge of the area playing a one-two with Mumbongo before coolly side footing into the bottom corner.

 

And Sons were in dreamland 10 minutes before half-time as they added a third in real style.

 

Fuming Kelty boss Charlie Mulgrew had introduced Liam McLeish as his side switched to a more direct style. But slack passing at the back then caught them out.

 

They were made to pay for conceding a cheap throw-in as Kristian Webster found Carlo Pignatiello, and he cut onto his weak foot before bending a curling effort beyond the full stretch Adams and into the net.

 

The shellshocked hosts tried to muster a response, but the closest they came to finding the net actually came via a Dumbarton player.

 

Aron Lynas’ interception spun into the air and almost caught out Shay Kelly, but the St Mirren loanee did enough to divert the ball wide for a corner.

 

A double change at half-time saw talisman Michael Ruth and Craig McGuffie introduced in-place of Kalvin Orsi, who had been battling illness, and the booked Sena Niang.

 

And it took Ruth no time at all to get in on the act.

 

Cammy Clark sent a long ball forward which caused chaos in the Kelty ranks, with Ruth catching Tam O’Ware napping and racing clear before calmly rolling beyond Adams and into the net via the post.

 

Typically tenacious play from Ruth then robbed veteran Kirk Broadfoot of possession and he slipped Joel Mumbongo through, with the Swede taking a heavy blow to the face from Callum Flatman and immediately hitting the deck.

 

Claims for a penalty fell on deaf ears, with Mumbongo eventually stretchered off with concussion following a lengthy delay for treatment.

 

By this stage Dumbarton looked like a team enjoying themselves however, and Kelty’s frustration was about to boil over again.

 

Aggressive running from Kristian Webster saw the Rangers loanee surge forward before being crudely upended by Ross Cunningham, who picked up a second booking on a day where nothing went right for the hosts.

 

And Sons looked determined to add further gloss to the scoreline in the Fife sunshine, with Craig McGuffie jinking clear but just off target from the edge of the area.

 

A driving Matty Shiels run was then cynically ended on the edge of the area, with Michael Ruth standing over the free-kick. He placed the ball with intent, but saw his low effort deflected beyond the helpless Adams by Shiels - for just his second goal of the season.

 

Things then got even better with 11 minutes remaining as Sons added a sixth in style.

 

A brilliant Ryan Blair crossfield pass sent Jinky Hilton clear, with his outside of the foot cross attacked by youth graduate Aedan Gilfedder who was clattered in the progress.

 

Referee Iain Sneddon was set to point to the spot but smartly let play continue, with Craig McGuffie on hand to smash the loose ball into the net.

 

Sons then pushed hard for a seventh of the afternoon, with McGuffie and Gilfedder both going close. Before superb play from Kristian Webster opened up space, but he found himself denied by a last-gasp Kirk Broadfoot block - as Dumbarton were made to settle for six.