Published: Tuesday, 6th October, 2009 3:00pm

Sons' extra time agony

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Stirling Albion snatch win in stoppage time

A FRUSTRATING combination of poor finishing and inhospitable conditions contributed to Dumbarton's defeat at the hands of league leaders Stirling Albion on Saturday.

Dumbarton boss Jim Chapman selected the 11 who started last week at Peterhead, with Martin McNiff for Ross O'Donohue the only change on the bench.

The game was dominated from beginning to end by the weather conditions with a strong wind blowing directly down the park from the River Leven.

The wind was strong for the first half but seemed to strengthen during the interval, ensuring Dumbarton would be hemmed into their own half for the second period.

The teams cancelled themselves out in the early stages, but the game sprung to life after 21 minutes when Albion were awarded a soft penalty after Grehan went down under a challenge from Chris Smith.

But Jan Vojacek pulled off a fine save to deny McCord and keep the scoreline blank.

On the half-hour, Dumbarton took the lead when the visitors failed to clear a corner on the right, and former Partick Thistle midfielder Scott Chaplain drove the ball home.

Two minutes later, Albion were level with a similar goal when Dumbarton failed to clear their lines and McKenna headed past Jan Vojacek from close range.

After 41 minutes Dumbarton regained the lead in style after Stirling's Forsyth fouled Chris Craig 30 yards out and young Alan Cook stepped up to thunder the ball out of the reach of Hogarth.

Against the wind, Dumbarton faced an uphill task trying to hold a slender lead.

They only managed to do so for seven minutes when Devine scored from a 40-yard wind-assisted free-kick.

The last five minutes were a disaster for the home team.

Firstly, McNiff was sent off for a wild lunge at Gibson and then in stoppage time Stirling scored the winner.

They launched one last ball into the box, but Dumbarton could not clear and Robertson drove the ball home from 12 yards.

Dumbarton: Vojacek, Geggan, Smith, Dunlop, Gordon, (McNiff 46), McStay, Chisholm, Chaplain, McLaughlin, (Carcary 65), Craig, (Murray 84), Cook.