Dumbarton3–3Kelty Hearts

Dumbarton kept their unbeaten run in the KDM Evolution Trophy going in a six goal thriller against League One Kelty Hearts.


Stevie Farrell’s men led after 20 minutes through Scott Honeyman’s fifth of the season, but then found themselves 3-1 behind 15 minutes later - before two goals in the final five minutes of the first-half ensured that the sides went in level.


Despite the home side having a host of chances to win the game in the second-half, the Maroon Machine held firm - with boss Stevie Farrell left with plenty to pickover after the game.


He said: “I was disappointed with us in the first-half. I thought we created good chances and scored three decent goals, but defensively we were poor on the transition.


“I said that to the players at half-time, and I told them that if we defended properly we’d have a chance. And in the second-half I thought that we were the better side, we carried the bigger threat and created a number of chances.


“There were a lot of positives to take and it’s another good point for us.”


A heavily rotated squad saw youth team graduate Max McArthur handed his first start, whilst Ollie Ecrepont, Aron Lynas, Gordon Walker, Cammy Clark. Ally Roy, Tony Wallace and Chris Johnston all earned recalls.


Other than an effort from former Son James Graham floating wide, there was little to report in the opening exchanges - with Dumbarton taking the lead from their first chance of note.


Mark Durnan nodded Dom Docherty’s corner to Scott Honeyman, and his drive from the edge of the area flew through a sea of legs and found the net.


Kelty hit back almost immediately, with Ryan Blair tripping Clark Bexfield on the edge of the area - and Aaron Arnott finding the net from 12 yards.


The hosts were perhaps still reeling from the quickfire response, as they found themselves 2-1 down less than 60 seconds later.


A sharp counter attack saw Craig Johnston race free before unselfishly squaring for Robbie Cole to stab into the empty net.


Sons looked to hit back, with a sharp move down the right seeing Gordon Walker drive into space. The Irishman picked out Tony Wallace, but he had his effort blocked on the line.


Almost immediately Kelty responded, winning a second penalty of the game when Mark Durnan bumped Grant Leitch in the area - with referee Gavin Duncan again pointing straight to the spot, and Arnott tucking away from 12 yards.


That gave Sons a mountain to climb, but they had hope restored five minutes before the interval as Arnott found the net again - albeit to complete an unwanted hat-trick.


There looked like little on as the midfielder turned and fired a backpass towards Kelty keeper Ryan Adamson from 20 yards, but the pace on the ball caught out the stopper - and the ball skidded off the surface and into the bottom corner of the net.


Suddenly it was Dumbarton who had all the momentum, and they found a leveller in the final minute of a breathless opening 45.


Walker and Chris Johnston combined to set Scott Honeyman free, and the opening goalscorer hit the byline before squaring for Tony Wallace to pick out the bottom corner with a clinical low drive.


After a chaotic first-half, the second period started at a far slower pace. But Sons continued to look the more dangerous.


Dom Docherty cracked the post from an indirect free-kick from a narrow angle after a backpass had been handled by Kelty keeper Adamson, before the home end saw penalty claims of their own fall on deaf ears.


Leighton McIntosh got in behind Jack Brydon and looked to be bumped to the ground as he went to shoot. However this time referee Duncan waved away protests from furious Sons players.


Sharp play from Docherty then created another chance for McIntosh, as he danced away from two challenges and dragged an effort wide of the post, before Kelty’s ever-lively Graham tested Ollie Ecrepont - but found the Ayr United loanee equal to the challenge.


As the game moved into the final minute the chance that Sons had been waiting for arrived.


Chris Johnston weaved his way beyond a challenge and picked out Tony Wallace with an inch-perfect cross - but the former Annan man’s header lacked power and was blocked at point-blank range by Adamson, as both sides were made to settle for a point.