Dumbarton added another vital point to their survival bid on Saturday as their League One clash with Forfar Athletic at Station Park ended in a goalless draw.
Jim Duffy had named the same side for the third game running, but was forced into a change before kick-off with Stuart Carswell’s knee injury that kept him out of the Stenhousemuir game two weeks ago tightening up again with Boris Melingui replacing him.
Sons created the first few openings of the game with Dom Thomas the architect, but it was nothing that seriously threatened the hosts’ goal.
There was a more clear cut chance for Calum Gallagher on 16 minutes after quick passing from Dumbarton, but he looked to be off balance when it came to the shot and skewed his effort well wide.
Another chance fell the way of Gallagher midway through the half when he got on the end of Ross Forbes’ floated free-kick that was missed by Melingui and Brian McLean, but the Sons number nine couldn’t turn the ball into the net from close range.
The hosts then began to enjoy more possession as the half went on and a looping cross had Grant Adam scrambling across his line to punch the ball away to safety.
The Sons goalkeeper ended up colliding with the post from that save and needed treatment but would play on.
READ MORE: Jim Duffy pleased with key point away to Forfar
And he was called into action just a minute after meeting the post, diving down to his right and pushing away John Baird’s low strike to keep it level.
Cammy Ballantyne battled well just before the break to win the ball in a good position before his shot was deflected for a corner, with the resulting set piece landing at Thomas’ feet who skipped by a challenge with ease before forcing Marc McCallum in the Loons goal into a basic save.
In the second-half, Sons would continue to do most of the pressing with the ball without doing an awful lot to get the travelling support excited.
Forbes and Thomas had crosses cleared, before the latter created an opening for himself when he stole the ball from former Sons teammate Brad Spencer, but the end result was a shot that was once again straight at McCallum.
The chance that perhaps got Dumbarton fans most excited was when Craig Barr glanced a Forbes free-kick towards goal, but with a deflection off a Forfar shirt the ball hit the side netting.
That was the last real chance for Dumbarton, but there would still be an opportunity for Forfar as Adam made a good stop to keep out Dale Hilson’s close-range effort before the Sons keeper bravely collected the loose ball as both sides were forced to share the points.
Results elsewhere mean that the battle to beat the drop at the bottom of League One remains just as tight as it was with four points separating the bottom four after Stranraer’s victory at Raith, Stenhousemuir’s win at Airdrieonians and Brechin taking a point from champions Arbroath.
READ MORE: Dumbarton get back on track with Brechin victory
Dumbarton are back in action this weekend as they welcome East Fife to The Rock on Saturday afternoon with the game kicking-off at 3pm.
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