Craig Sives headed Livi into the lead in the first half before Scott Agnew levelled with 10 minutes to spare. And Garry Fleming had the final say when he fired the winner two minutes from time. The win puts Sons 11 points clear of the drop-zone with seven games to play.

Dumbarton boss Ian Murray made two changes from the last league outing against Hearts. Scott Linton missed out through injury, while Chris Duggan was left on the bench. Mark Gilhaney came back into the side and Mitch Megginson’s brace in the Stirlingshire Cup win over Falkirk earned him a starting spot.

Livingston ended a run of five defeats with a draw away at Rangers in their previous tie and manager Mark Burchill went with an unchanged lineup.

Dumbarton had the first effort on goal after a few minutes when Stuart Findlay played a long ball through for Garry Fleming. The striker outmuscled Craig Sives but his volley from outside the box flew over.

Moments later Ibra Sekajja got himself free in the box, but the Livi striker scuffed a shot wide of Danny Rogers’ goal.

Fleming started the game well showing good strength to hold up the play for Sons, and he would have another chance at goal after 10 minutes. Scott Agnew sent Mark Gilhaney away down the right, the former Alloa man’s cross found Fleming who guided the ball towards the far corner but it crept wide.

Minutes later Livingston who would hit the front. Chris Turnner was booked for a rash challenge on Jason Talbot on Livi’s left. From the resulting free-kick Keaghan Jacobs whipped in a terrific cross and Craig Sives rose to head the home side into the lead. Despite the quality of the delivery Sons will question why the centre half was afforded so much room in the box as he finished without so much as a challenge.

For a few minutes after the goal Sons seemed shell shocked as Livi put on the pressure. On 20 minutes they tested Darren Jamieson for the first time. Some great play by Chris Turner got him some room in a crowded midfield before sending Gilhaney free down the right. As the Livi defence backed off him he decided to have a strike from just outside the box, but it was comfortably pushed away by the Livingston number one.

Sons were then forced into a change after a strong challenge on Darren Petrie saw the on loan Dundee Utd man hobble off, to be replaced by Dylan Easton.

Livingston should have doubled their lead on the half hour. Talbot beat Gilhaney too easily on the left wing and fired in a low cross which Sekajja controlled well. With yards of space in the centre of goal, he looked certain to make it two, but Findlay got across brilliantly to block his effort.

Danny Rogers was the next player Sons had to thank for keeping out Sekajja. Scott Pittman cut in from the left and slid a lovely ball through to find Sekajja one-on-one with Rogers. The goalkeeper made himself big and blocked the strike.

Easton went close for Sons when his strike from the left side of the box was palmed away by Jamieson, the ball still looked like it would loop in but it was cleared off the line by a Livi defender.

The half would end 1-0 to the home side. In what had been a fairly even 45 minutes one lapse had cost Dumbarton, the away fans were growing increasingly agitated at a number of strong Livingston challenges which went unpunished, while Sons ended the half with three in the book.

Sons nearly shot themselves in the foot moments after the restart. A slack ball from Easton let Pittman in down the left, Turner thought about a challenge but — with a yellow card already to his name — wisely let him go. Pittman delivered a dangerous cross but Findlay was well positioned to head away.

With Dumbarton not making much of an impression in an attacking sense in the opening 15 minutes of the second period, Ian Murray went for change of system, Duggan replaced Taggart and Sons switched from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2. Gilhaney filled in at right back, Easton moved to right midfield with Megginson on the left and Duggan partnered Fleming up top.

It didn’t have any immediate effect as Sons struggled to get their attacking players on the ball in meaningful positions. With 20 minutes to go a set piece looked their most likely route to goal, but Livi had rarely looked troubled when asked to deal with cross balls.

With 15 minutes remaining Murray used his last throw of the dice, putting Archie Campbell on for Megginson. Campbell went up front with Fleming dropping back to left midfield.

Having rarely threatened the Livi goal, a moment of inspiration would draw Sons level.

Scott Agnew dribbled towards goal and was pulled back, about 22 yards from goal just right of centre. Agnew dusted himself down to take the kick himself, he struck a sweet left footed effort into Jamieson’s right corner to the delight of the travelling Sons support. The goalkeeper will be disappointed that he was beaten on the side he was covering.

The equaliser spurred Sons into life and they looked the most likely side to get the winner. With two minutes to go it came.

A Scott Agnew corner was contested by Andy Graham, the ball broke to Fleming 16 yards out, he struck a beautifully controlled volley into the right corner to send the away fans into raptures and Ian Murray bounding out of the dugout in celebration.

Livingston had the stuffing knocked out of them by the equaliser and hadn’t recovered. After Fleming’s strike Sons saw the game out comfortably.