Dumbarton boss Stevie Farrell admits he took a number of positives out of Saturday, despite his side being knocked out of the SPFL Trust Trophy.
Kelty Hearts were 3-1 winners at the Rock in a third-round tie that Sons created a number of golden opportunities from whilst shooting themselves in the foot at the other end.
Visiting goalkeeper Kyle Gourlay was in inspired form with only Michael Ruth finding a way past him and the home side gifted three goals to their League One opponents with Botti Biabi netting a hat-trick – the third of which was a result of defender Sean Crighton and goalkeeper Harry Broun being caught out in their own penalty box.
Faz believes on another day his side could have had four in the first half alone and whilst he was disappointed with the goals they gave away, he hopes his troops will learn from it.
Speaking post-match, he said: “I was really pleased with the way we played, I thought we were excellent. There’s a lot of things I’m really pleased about and a lot of positives.
“We really went up the pitch with a real aggression and on another day we could have had a day like Stenhousemuir where we score goals and are clinical.
“We had eight chances in the first-half alone and then we’ve had a couple of headers in the second-half.
“I can’t remember Kelty creating a chance against us – we gave them three goals.
“It’s the first time we’ve lost a goal all season playing the way we are trying to play – I don’t think we should play it at that point but that’s on the players and they will learn from those mistakes.”
Another positive on Saturday for the Sons boss was the opportunity to get minutes into the legs of players who have struggled for game time this season.
Declan Byrne and Kalvin Orsi are on their return from injury whilst the likes of Gregg Wylde have found it difficult to cement a place in the side due to the form of Greig Young at left-back.
Faz was also interested to try out a couple of new combinations across the pitch with Byrne and Ruth partnering each other up-front for the first time, and he was impressed with what he saw.
He added: “Declan Byrne and Kalvin Orsi both got 70 minutes, Gregg Wylde got 90 minutes, Michael Ruth got his first goal for the club and he probably should have had an easier one before it.
“I hadn’t really had a chance to see Declan Byrne and Michael Ruth as the two strikers together so I wanted to see that and I was really pleased with it, their movement caused Kelty a lot of problems in the first half.”
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