Dumbarton lost 5-3 on penalties to Scottish League Two side Forfar at Station Park in the Betfred Cup.

The match finished 2-2 after 90 minutes, but with the new cup format it went straight to penalties.

The home side kept their cool scoring all their penalties, as Grant Gallagher was the only player to miss, blazing his shot over the bar. The result means Forfar go away with the extra bonus point.

The game was an exciting one for fans, with flow of the game changing regularly.

The Loons went ahead via a goal from former Sons trialist Josh Peters after 36 minutes.

Gallagher equalised with a header on 54 minutes, but shortly after Tom O’Brien’s long range shot restored the League Two side’s lead.

Garry Fleming’s penalty brought the away side level again with 20 minutes left, with a frantic finish, both sides spurning several chances.

The Sons were looking more at the start of the game, but it was former trialist Peters who slotted home after 36 minutes.

Former Hibs striker Peters came back to show Dumbarton what they were missing out on, prodding home from 12 yards out.

The away side nearly replied instantly via Gregor Buchanan, but Forfar keeper Grant Adam smartly turned the ball away from the crowded 6-yard box to safety.

But another former Sons player almost found the net against them minutes later, Jim Lister unable to get a touch on Lewis Milne’s dangerous cross.

Dumbarton playing with the same 4-2-3-1 formation they used during pre-season, and continued to take the ball down the wings and ping in crosses, but Forfar were able to deal with these comfortably.

And after the break the visitors finally got that crucial goal from Gallagher, his fifth goal for the club and scoring the Sons opening goal for the second consecutive season.

The midfielder headed home unopposed into the bottom corner, after a brilliant cross from right-back Craig Pettigrew.

But O’Brien struck back minutes after the goal, given far too much space on the ball and being allowed to blast the ball into the top corner from 25 yards out.

And Dumbarton were given a massive slice of luck after a Forfar player looked to hit the ball into his hand.

The ref pointed to the spot for handball, and Fleming duly obliged as last season’s player of the year confidently finished.

The game became frantic in the last 20 minutes, with both sets of players making mistakes as the game began to become end to end.

Dumbarton came close via Ryan Stevenson, as his cross ricocheted off the cross bar with 10 minutes to go.

And Forfar's Lewis Milne almost scored at the death, but Dumbarton's number one Mark Brown turned his shot away for a corner.

The home side went down to 10 men at the death after Jamie Bain was given a second yellow in extra-time.

Dumbarton’s next game is at home to East Fife, who beat Scottish Premiership side Dundee on penalties 4-2.

Forfar: Adam, Bain, MacKintosh, Munro, Malcolm, O’Brien, Cox, Milne, Lister, Swankie, Peters

Subs: Hill, Fotheringham, Hay, Yates, Mailer, Devine,

Dumbarton: Brown, Pettigrew, Docherty, Buchanan, Stevenson, Gallagher, Fleming, Thomson, Smith (Todd, 74), Wright, Stirling

Subs: Barclay, McCallum, Clark, Kassarate

Ref: David Lowe