Dumbarton1–5Airdrie

Dumbarton's hopes of Hampden are over for another year after a bruising defeat to Championship Airdrieonians.


In truth they were over after just nine minutes as Rhys McCabe's men raced into a two goal lead through Lewis McGrattan and Gavin Gallagher, and the Diamonds never looked back leaving Sons boss Stevie Farrell frustrated.


He said: “Losing the two goals is a mountain to climb when you’re playing a team who are in the Championship. At our own level we’ve been behind by two goals and fought back to get something from the game.


“There are levels and I understand that. But to give yourself a chance when you are playing a team from a higher level you’ve got to get through the first 20 minutes. 1-0 would’ve been bad enough, 2-0 was probably too big a mountain to climb.”


After Brett Long suffered a season ending injury against Inverness, teenage Falkirk loanee Owen Hayward was handed a debut between the posts - whilst Kristian Webster, signed hours before the game, was named on the bench.


Backed by an impressive home gate, Sons knew that progression to the fifth round of the tournament would be a massive financial boost. But got off to a nightmare start.


Just three minutes were on the clock when Chris Mochrie’s lovely backheel sent Lewis McGrattan in behind a static Sons’ backline, and the former Morton man sharply lifted the ball over the onrushing Hayward.


Sons’ response was almost immediate as Ryan Blair had an effort cleared off the line, before the same man was denied by a full-stretch save from former Dumbarton keeper Kieran Wright.


At the other end debutant Hayward had to be sharp to deny a suspiciously offside looking Ben Wilson one-on-one, but there was nothing he could do to prevent the visitors doubling their advantage with just 10 minutes on the clock.


Gavin Gallagher’s short corner caught Sons’ sleeping, and the midfielder was given time and space inside the area to pick his spot through a crowd of legs.


Owen Hayward's first 15 minutes as a Dumbarton player were proving busy, and the young keeper was called into action again soon after to bravely race out at the feet of Wilson after he had again sprung the offside trap to burst in on goal.


Sons’ early game plan was clearly out the window, and so a tactic switch to four at the back saw them finally settle into the game - and again come close when Finlay Gray fizzed a low drive wide from the edge of the area.


Only a brave Sam Graham block then denied Cammy Clark from close range, whilst at the other end former Son Adam Frizzell's outside of the foot effort was straight at Hayward. The half ended with Kalvin Orsi coming close, but the winger was denied goals in back-to-back home matches by a sliding Flynn Duffy block.


The second-half started with Orsi involved again as he latched onto a ball into the channel and hooked out a cross for Finlay Gray, but his touch let him down and Craig Watson cleared the danger.


Airdrie's Dylan MacDonald then passed up a great chance to seal the game as he pounced on a poor defensive header and screwed wide from inside the area. Almost immediately Sons broke and Sena Niang dragged wide with Wright at full stretch, before a neat touch and turn from sub Joel Mumbongo also saw him send the ball wide of the same post.


It felt like the third goal of the game was still going to be a crucial one, but it was the away side who got it.


Chris Mochrie chased what looked like a lost cause into the corner, with the former Dundee United youngster outmuscling Sena Niang and driving into the box before drilling beyond the helpless Hayward


That was harsh on Sons, who quickly went close as Niang dragged wide from the edge of the box, but even worse was to follow just minutes later as the clinical Diamonds pounced on another defensive mistake.


Mark Durnan was hassled into an error by the tireless Ben Wilson, with the Northern Irishman taking the perfect touch to set himself before sliding beyond the onrushing Hayward in the Sons goal.


After going close seconds earlier, the Diamonds then added a cruel fifth as the game moved into its final five minutes - Adam Frizzell’s swirling corner was perfect for Craig Watson to thump a header beyond Hayward.


But Sons would have the final say, and get the goal that their attacking endeavour had merited.


Craig McGuffie picked up a Matty Shiels pass on the edge of a packed penalty area and curled beyond Wright - via the post - for his first goal since August, to give those left in the home end something to cheer.