LAST Saturday’s victory over Livingston at the Rock signalled the end of the first round of league fixtures for Dumbarton, with the Sons having a free weekend we take a look back over the start to life under Stevie Aitken.

Dumbarton have three wins one draw and five defeats after the first quarter of the season. The undoubted highs coming in the opening league wins over Hibs and St Mirren. Disappointments have come in the form of a home defeat to part-time rivals Alloa and early cup exits.

Dumbarton 2 Hibs 1, August 8 Sons got started by producing the shock of the opening weekend when they stunned Edinburgh giants Hibs at the Rock. Gregor Buchanan struck first for Dumbarton before Dominique Malonga equalised for the Hibees. Willie Gibson fired in a tremendous second-half free-kick for the hosts to give Aitken’s men the perfect start.

St Mirren 1 Dumbarton 2, August 15 In Dumbarton’s first meeting with former boss Ian Murray a late Garry Fleming penalty gave the Sons maximum points from two fixtures they would’ve been expect to struggle in. Willie Gibson struck again from a free-kick before former Son Scott Agnew scored a sensational volley for the Saints to level. In the closing stages Kevin Cawley won a penalty for the Sons which Fleming duly converted to give them the win at St Mirren Park.

Dumbarton 0 Queen of the South 2, August 22 Goals from former Son Iain Russell and Derek Lyle consigned Dumbarton to their first league loss of the season. It was a match the Doonhamers were in full control of as Sons rarely threatened. Following on from the extra-time defeat to Queen’s Park in the Petrofac Challenge Cup, Stevie Aitken felt his side looked jaded in the second half.

Falkirk 2 Dumbarton 1, August 28 A sluggish start cost Dumbarton in this live tv game at the Falkirk Stadium. The Bairns too advantage and went two goals up after 15 minutes through Blair Alston and Craig Sibbald. Sons hit back when Darren Barr headed in from a corner. Dumbarton grew into the game in the second half and passed up some half chances to equalise.

Dumbarton 0 Alloa 2, September 5 Alloa registered their first win of the campaign at the Rock after they capitalised on a lacklustre Dumbarton display. Sons had the bulk of possession in the opening period without creating clear cut chances. They switched off at the back in the second half when the Wasps took a quick free-kick and Graeme Holmes ran clear to score, Eddie Fearns netted in injury-time to seal the win.

Greenock Morton 0 Dumbarton 0, September 12 Dumbarton were left wondering what might have been at Cappielow after 10 man Morton hung on for a point. Conor Pepper was sent off for the home side, receiving his second yellow card for a pull on Eamonn Brophy after 65 minutes. Garry Fleming and Kevin Cawley were denied at close range by terrific saves from home keeper Derek Gaston. In injury time Fleming struck the post with a header.

Dumbarton 1 Rangers 2, September 19 Sons put on a brave display against runaway league leaders Rangers, keeping Mark Warburton’s side at bay until the Martyn Waghron fired home the opener in the 63rd minute.

Ten minutes later he netted a second from the spot. Mark Docherty’s slack back pass was seized upon by Kenny Miller and Gregor Buchanan brought the striker down, seeing the ref point to the spot and show the red card.

Garry Fleming got the consolation Sons’ play had deserved, converting a penalty after Frazer Wright was fouled by Danny Wilson in the box.

Raith Rovers 1 Dumbarton 0, September 26 Lewis Toshney’s close range finish in the 56th minute extended Dumbarton’s winless run to six at Stark’s Park. Sons found it hard to make an impression in the final third.

Dumbarton 2 Livingston 1, October 3 Sons ended a six match winless run against Livi at the Rock. A Kevin Cawley header and a first Sons goal for Eamonn Brophy gave Aitken’s men the points.