Ryan Conroy and Grant Anderson put the hosts firmly in control as they stormed to a 2-0 lead at half time, before Mitch Megginson replied late on for the Sons. Ian Murray’s men started in a changed formation of 3-4-1-2. Stuart Findlay was in to make his Dumbarton debut after joining on loan from Celtic during the week, and he would make up part of the back three. Garry Fleming was also brought back in to the starting line-up.

The game started quietly, but Findlay was keen to make an immediate impression on his team mates and Sons fans. He won his fair share of headers and made some key clearances to deny Raith in the opening stages. Dumbarton registered the first shot on goal, but Scott Agnew didn’t threaten as he dragged his shot wide from the edge of the penalty area. Ross Callachan then tried to show Agnew how it was done, as he let fly from similar distance, but the outcome was the same as the ball missed the target. Martin Scott came close to the opening goal a few minutes later, but he headed wide after beating Sons keeper Danny Rogers to the ball. There was a good chance for Dumbarton on 20 minutes. Fleming was sent through on goal by Archie Campbell. He was shown wide by David McGurn in the Rovers goal, and from a tight angle Fleming tried to guide the ball into the net only for Paul Watson to put the ball behind for a corner. Raith then hit the post as Mark Stewart clipped the ball towards goal following a Grant Anderson cross, and the rebound fell back into Rogers’ arms. Ryan Conroy is no stranger to scoring against Dumbarton, and nearly did so once more, as he curled a free kick just wide. But, on the half hour mark he was given another dead ball chance, this time from 12 yards.

Anderson cut in from the left hand side, skipping past Scott Linton and Lee Mair, before Chris Turner brought him down and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot. Conroy stepped up, and put the ball into the bottom left hand corner, despite Rogers going the right way. Just four minutes later Raith extended their lead. Calum Elliot clipped the ball into the back post, and there was Anderson to nod the ball home into an empty net. Sons then had two chances to reply. First, Fleming drove the ball wide before Mitch Megginson had a free header from 12 yards, however he couldn’t generate enough power to trouble McGurn.

Dumbarton started the second half much brighter, and Megginson nearly got one back immediately but headed over. The hosts should have put the game out of sight after that, as they broke away in a three on two from a Sons corner. Luckily for Dumbarton, Stewart put the ball wide of the target. Scott Agnew was at the centre of most things for Dumbarton, he created chances for Fleming and Campbell but neither found the net. Agnew had an attempt himself that was held by McGurn. Despite Dumbarton dominating the possession, Raith were dangerous when they did have the ball, with Linton having to make an important clearance to prevent Elliot from scoring before Rogers denied Jason Thomson.

The visitors would get a goal back on 80 minutes, which they probably deserved. Agnew’s powerful attempt from the edge of the area was pushed away by McGurn, although only as far as Megginson who put the ball into the net from close range. There was still time for three golden chances for Murray’s men to equalise.

First, Megginson hit the bar from close range after Fleming put McGurn under pressure from a cross. Then, with nearly the last touch of the game, McGurn was at full stretch to somehow claw Agnew’s attempt onto the crossbar, and the rebound from Andy Graham was headed off the line for a corner.

The corner was cleared and referee John McKendrick blew his whistle. Dumbarton welcome bottom side Livingston to the Rock on Saturday, with Sons remaining in seventh place in the SPFL Championship.