Dumbarton0–2Stenhousemuir

Dumbarton’s KDM Evolution Trophy league phase campaign ended with a first defeat in the tournament, against League One Stenhousemuir.

 

Goals late in either half from Ross Taylor and Euan O’Reilly did the damage. But boss Stevie Farrell saw positives in his side’s showing.

 

Faz said: “It was a strange game. Honestly, I thought we had the better chances overall. But credit to Stenny they were clinical with two good chances.

 

“The first goal came from a mistake in the first-half; he just got caught on it, and they punished us. The second was a great bit of play, a quality cross and a clinical finish at the back post.

 

“We had chances too. Scott Honeyman was in a couple of times in both halves. In the second-half, we started really well and looked the dominant side, but ultimately, against a good team like Stenhousemuir who know how to grind out results, you have to take your chances. We didn’t tonight.

 

“We had good moments around the box, but we just needed a little more quality at the top end of the pitch.”

 

A heavily charged side saw Ollie Ecrepont, Mark Durnan, Cammy Clark, Ryan Blair, Chris Johnston and Scott Honeyman all earn recalls.

 

Sons survived an early scare as Ross Taylor saw his third minute free-kick rattle the bar, with Mikey Anderson's follow-up cleared off the line by the perfectly positioned Aron Lynas.

 

Another awkward Taylor free-kick, this time from a tight angle, was next to test Ecrepont - before Dumbarton put together their best move of the game.

 

Cammy Clark superb booming pass found Chris Johnston, who cutely slipped Scott Honeyman in on goal - but he was denied by the onrushing Yan Gromov.

 

The visiting keeper collided with both Honeyman and a defender making the save however, receiving lengthy treatment in the park before being stretchered off with a broken arm.

 

After both sets of players had been defrosted for the restart, it was Sons who looked the more threatening. Passing up three good opportunities to get the all important opening goal.

 

First, a sharp touch and turn in the area from Scott Honeyman saw the birthday boy create a yard of space, before drilling narrowly wide of the far post.

 

A slick move then carved open the Warriors backline and presented a chance for Tony Wallace, but he skewed his effort from the edge of the area off target.

 

Honeyman was presented with another golden chance as Gordon Walker's booming header caught the Warriors defence napping. But the ball just wouldn't sit for the forward and he was crowded out by a mixture of replacement keeper Darren Jamieson and a defender.

 

And those missed opportunities came back to haunt the hosts in the ninth minute of first-half injury time.

 

Ex-Son Finlay Gray challenged former teammate Aron Lynas in the midfield, with the ball spinning up to send Ross Taylor in on goal - and the impressive winger drilled beyond Ecrepont in the home goal.

 

Dumbarton didn't let that knock them off their stride however, starting the second-half with plenty of attacking endeavour.

 

Only a vital Ollie Simpson touch denied Honeyman a tap-in, before Tony Wallace saw his close range effort cleared off the line.

 

Slack play in midfield then gifted Matty Aitken a chance to deal the victory for the Warriors, but he arrowed off target from a great position in the area. Before a raft of changes disrupted the flow for both sides.

 

Scott Honeyman’s superb pass almost sent Kristian Webster clear - but he was denied by a last ditch challenge. Whilst at the other end, a perfectly timed Mark Durnan tackle denied Finlay Gray a goal against his boyhood club following a trademark surging run.

 

It would be the visitors who had the final say however, as they made the points - and a sixth straight victory against Dumbarton - secure with four minutes remaining.

 
Star man Taylor hit the byline before drilling a ball across the face of goal for Euan O’Reilly to touch in from point-blank range.