Dumbarton round off home campaign with 2-1 Stranraer win

The visitors and the Sons, secured safety last weekend with 3-0 victories as Dumbarton defeated East Fife and Stranraer ran out winners over Brechin City.

But it was Jim Duffy’s side who came out on top on Saturday after first-half goals from Calum Gallagher and Ross Forbes had his side on their way to the three points with Innes Cameron setting up a nervy finale.

Sons took the lead in the first ten minutes with a surging run forward from Dom Thomas which saw the Kilmarnock loanee burst past two players before he cut the ball back for Bobby Barr who then played the ball inside to Stuart Carswell.

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Carswell, who would later that evening be named Sonstrust Player of the Year, saw an effort from 20-yards deflected and fall into the path of Gallagher who fired in off the post from close-range.

The lead could have been doubled just a couple of minutes later but for a heroic block from Jamie Hamill which denied Thomas after a smart one-two between David Ferguson and Forbes.

Half chances followed for either side, with Grant Adam holding Andy McDonald’s free-kick fairly comfortably and Gallagher heading straight at Max Currie.

Sons’ lead was doubled just before the 20 minute mark as Barr’s cross was met by Forbes who forced Currie into a fine one-handed save with the loose ball falling to Cammy Ballantyne.

The Dumbarton full-back’s cross was then volleyed into the net by Forbes, making up for his miss just a few seconds previously.

Gallagher could have made it three on 34 minutes after quick feet and a good pick out from Thomas, but Currie blocked the strike from Sons’ number nine.

Calum Gallagher opened the scoring for the Sons early in the first-half (Photo: Andy Scott)

Craig Barr was next to come close for Duffy’s side in a half that they dominated, but he glanced a header wide from Forbes’ dead ball.

Thomas then flashed a long-range strike just wide of the post as Sons chased a third before the break.

In the early stages of the second-half he had another effort from distance, which this time found the target with Currie turning it behind for a corner.

The second period would belong largely to the visitors, and Cameron nodded home at the back post on 54 minutes following Mark Lamont’s cross to give Stranraer hope.

There were still chances for Dumbarton as Thomas’ effort was beaten away just a minute later before Carswell’s shot was deflected agonisingly wide.

Adam then denied Lamont after he cut in all too easily from the left before making a good block to deny substitute Grant Anderson, who tried to take the ball round the Sons keeper.

READ MORE: Clean sheet pleases Duffy as Dumbarton see off East Fife

There was a great chance for Dumbarton to put the game to bed in the closing stages, but the ball got away from substitute Boris Melingui following a strong run from Thomas and the chance was gone.

Sons held out for the three points, their third win in four games, and travel to Champions Arbroath this weekend high on confidence.