Published: Tuesday, 26th January, 2010 3:40pm

Fighting spirit secures victory for Sons

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DUMBARTON started 2010 with a narrow victory against league leaders Cowdenbeath at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium on Saturday.

After five weeks of inactivity the home side suffered from rustiness and found themselves a goal down at half-time.

But a barnstorming second half display saw the home side score the winner in the last minute.

Cowdenbeath opened aggressively and could, perhaps should, have scored in the opening minute.

Jon Robertson found space in the box to drill the ball goalwards and when Jan Vojacek pushed the ball away Gareth Wardlaw was the first to react.

But he pushed the ball wide of the upright when he should have done better.

Moments later a Scott Linton cross found the head of Droudge but he couldn't direct the ball goal wards.

With 15 minutes on the clock Vojacek was forced to push a Ramsay effort for a corner.

The Sons finally forced their way into the game and Stevie Murray and Chris Craig produced shots from the edge of the box before Derek Carcary was wide with an effort.

Ross Chisholm was next to try his luck after a knock down from Scott Chaplain.

Just as it looked like the home side were gaining the upper hand, Cowden took the lead.

Ramsay tried a cross-cum-shot from outside the box which was deflected across goal where Mark Baxter was the first to react to bundle the ball over the line.

Despite efforts from Craig and Chaplain twice, David Hay was untroubled in the visitors goal.

The second half was a different ball game as Dumbarton dominated.

Apart from a Paul McQuade shot and a Brian Fairbairn chip which grazed the bar on the way over, Cowdenbeath failed to produce the threat of their first half

display.

Just after the hour, Dumbarton fashioned the equaliser when a Murray cross found Carcary whose header rebounded off the post and into the path of Roddy Hunter, who squeezed the ball over the line from close in.

Dumbarton went for glory, bringing Kieran Brannan and Ross Clark off the bench, and both players made an impact. A Brannan run and shot tested Hay who pushed the ball for a corner.

From the resultant kick from Murray, Ben Gordon headed across goal and Hunter's effort was cleared off the goal-line. But with time running out the Sons fashioned a winner.

Ross O'Donoghue found Carcary on the right whose cross landed at the feet of Clark.

The substitute didn't make proper contact but the ball trundled over the line to the delight of the home support.

Manger Jim Chapman was understandably delighted with the result.

He said: "We were excellent throughout, particularly in the second half.

"We were disappointed to go in a goal down but told the players to carry on doing the same things and the rewards would come.

"We dominated the second half and I thought we were comfortable although I would have liked to create a few more chances. We now face a tough trip to Peterhead next week."

Dumbarton: Vojacek, Chisholm, Smith, Dunlop, Gordon, O'Donoghue, Craig, (Brannan 67), Chaplain (Clark 67), Hunter, Carcary, Murray.

Subs not used: McNiff, McStay, White.