Dumbarton Accies fell to their first league defeat of the season at the weekend with league leaders Thorn Athletic running out 1-0 winners.

It was a midfield battle in the opening stages with some heavy tackles as both sides searched for the opener.

Early opportunities came Accies way with an Andrew MacDonald free-kick from all of 25-yards forcing the Thorn keeper into a fine stop.

However, the visitors came closest to opening the scoring after Accies failed to clear their lines from a dangerous free-kick and, with Andrew McGillivray stranded, Thorn rattled the woodwork.

The hosts started the second-half brightly with a MacPherson effort going narrowly wide.

Accies came close once again with another MacPherson free-kick seeing the Thorn keeper scrambling, but they were left to rue missed chances as the visitors went on to score what proved to be the winning goal with Dylan Blairs tapping it home after a deflection saw it land at his feet.

The home side piled forward in search of the leveller and forced the Thorn keeper into the save of the match, tipping over Callum Shipcott’s effort on the stretch.

With time running out, Accies thought they had bagged the equaliser after a long throw into the box was forced into the net but referee James Jamieson waved it away after deeming the Thorn keeper was fouled in the build up as Accies’ six-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end.