Stranraer1–1Dumbarton

Kai Kirkpatrick volleyed in a stoppage time equaliser as Dumbarton earned a hard fought point against in-form Stranraer.


Frank McKeown’s men enjoyed the better of the play at Stair Park, but it looked like their luck in front of goal had deserted them - with Mark Russell’s 30th minute opener separating the teams.


However Kelty Hearts loanee Kirkpatrick, who became a dad for the second time during the week, had other ideas - as he smashed home a leveller deep into injury time.


And boss McKeown felt it was the least his side deserved, saying: “I think a draw was probably a fair result in the end. The boys responded to going behind very well and they were different class.


“There’s been a change in mentality. This team don’t stop, and that’s what I’ve embedded in them. If you’re going to beat us then you need to be good.


“We’ve got a really good group, I’m delighted with them, fighting out a point against a really tough team in great form.”


Missing skipper Mark Durnan through suspension, McKeown was forced into a reshuffle - recalling Chris Johnston and switching to an attacking 3-4-3 formation.


On the back of a Man of the Match showing against East Kilbride a week previous, keeper Shay Kelly was called into action early on - as Sons survived a real scare.


Finn Ecrepont, brother of substitute Dumbarton goalkeeper Ollie, picked out Mark Russell with a ball across the face of goal - with Kelly somehow denying the Blues skipper twice from point-blank range.


That would be the only real opening of note in a quiet opening to the game, that saw both sides enjoy plenty of the ball - but neither threatening.


On the half hour mark however, the home side took the lead - and this time Russell made no mistake.


A sharp counter attack caught Sons out, with Daniel McManus setting James Dolan racing free down the right. His cross found Russell at the front post, and the auxiliary forward managed to squeeze a low finish beyond Kelly.


Sons response was strong, and they grew into things as the half wore on.


Kristian Webster’s deep cross found Gordon Walker racing in at the back post - but he hit the side netting from an acute angle, before both Ryan Blair and Ally Roy were off target from the edge of the area.


Then came a golden chance for the away side.


Terrific play from Ryan Blair saw his pass flicked into the path of Leighton McIntosh, but League Two’s top goalscorer was denied by an outstanding Josh Lane save.


The second-half started as the first had ended, with Sons passing up another chance to draw level after more incisive attacking play.


Ally Roy burst from the half-way line, breezing beyond a collection of challenges before sliding Dom Docherty in with a perfectly timed pass - but the midfielder failed to make it two goals in as many games, as he drilled inches wide of the far post as those in the away end prepared to celebrate.


The welcome return of Scott Tomlinson from injury resulted in a host of Dumbarton corners, but Sons just couldn’t find a way to trouble Lane.


Ryan Blair was next to go close as he sent a looping volley over the bar, before the same man somehow found no takers for a ball that flashed right across the face of a packed penalty area.


As the game ticked towards injury time, boss McKeown brought centre-half Morgyn Neill on up front - but it was the home side who would pass up a great opportunity to seal the win.


BJ Coll slipped Daniel McManus in on goal, but his chipped effort lacked conviction and was straight at Shay Kelly.


And that would come back to haunt Chris Aitken’s men as Sons laid siege to the home goal with another collection of corners in stoppage time.


Ryan Blair’s delivery was half-cleared to the edge of the area, with Kai Kirkpatrick meeting the ball on the volley - crashing a low effort beyond Lane, to spark delirium amongst those who had made the long journey south.