Dumbarton failed to build on last week’s crucial victory over St Mirren as Morton ran out comfortable 2-0 winners at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium writes Jack Crawford.

In a game with little quality, two second-half goals from the visitors consigned Dumbarton to defeat and sent Morton to third in the table.

Dumbarton manager Stevie Aitken was forced into one change to his winning side from last week with Darren Barr dropping out for personal reasons. An equally experienced head in Frazer Wright took his place.

There was little on show in the first half with the game mostly being contested in midfield.

Andy Murdoch had the best chance for the Greenock side when he shot from 20 yards, but Alan Martin saved the shot with ease.

Dumbarton’s best attempt to break the deadlock came through Sam Stanton, who found space on the edge of the area but missed the target.

That just about summed up the first-half action with Sons failing to create much more in the second half.

The first notable moment of the second period was a worrying injury to Mark Docherty.

He clashed in a 50-50 with Kudos Oyenuga and came off worse as he screamed in discomfort and ripped off his shin pad.

After receiving lengthy treatment, he was stretchered off before being wheeled away and leaving the stadium in crutches.

While he was receiving treatment off the pitch, there was another injury worry for Dumbarton as Wright went down. He needed to be replaced and on came Josh Todd and Craig Pettigrew.

Andy Stirling put a header wide from six yards, which was as close as Sons came.

The injuries, however, seemed to affect the shape of Dumbarton and Morton quickly took control of the game.

Man-of-the-match Martin pushed away a dangerous cross after Morton got in behind the defence, before denying Russell who had a strike from distance.

Gary Oliver then should have done better when he got in behind the defence and attempted to cut the ball across goal, only for a Martin hand to prevent the ball from reaching Oyenuga.

There was only so much that Martin could do, however, as the deadlock was soon broken.

Russell, who had come close with a shot from a similar range just minutes before, was given the time to take another go.

This time his shot was out of the reach of the Sons keeper as the hosts took a deserved lead.

Donald McCallum then replaced Joe Thomson, leaving Dumbarton short in midfield with the attacking Stanton moved further back.

After Oliver was denied again when through on goal, before somehow putting it wide, Morton would have their second.

A slack backpass was picked up by Morton and despite the best efforts off Martin and his defence, eventually stroked the ball home to put the game out of sight with 15 minutes to go.

Dumbarton failed to put any real pressure on ‘Ton in the closing stages as the game petered out.

With Dunfermline and St Mirren both not playing due to cup commitments, it was a missed chance for the Sons to extend their lead over the bottom two sides. Attention now turns to hosting Raith Rovers on Saturday.

DUMBARTON: Martin; Smith, Buchanan, Wright (Pettigrew, 60), Harvie; Docherty (Todd, 56); Stirling, J Thomson (McCallum, 71), Stanton, R Thomson; Fleming.