Warriors make Sons surrender
Published 19 Apr 2012 12:30
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OUT OF LUCK: Scott Agnew had several efforts on Saturday but failed to find the back of the net
This fixture was over as a contest within the first 12 minutes.
Stenhousemuir scored twice in that period and, try as they might, Dumbarton rarely looked like retrieving the deficit.
Not for the first time this season, Dumbarton's lack of strength in depth was fully exposed.
Ryan Finnie, Mark Lamont and Alan Lithgow were all injured and Mark Gilhaney was suspended.
Kevin Nicoll was drafted in to the back four and before he could adjust to this unaccustomed position Dumbarton were behind.
Within four minutes the visitors took the lead when Paul Nugent pushed Grant Anderson in the penalty area and Brown Ferguson made an impeccable job of the spot kick.
It got worse for the home side in 12 minutes when a pinpoint Anderson cross was bulleted home from the head of the unmarked Andy Rodgers.
It took Dumbarton until the 27th minute to have a shot at goal when a Scott Agnew 25 yarder was just wide of the left upright.
On the half hour Dumbarton appealed for a penalty when Craig Dargo appeared to be held in the box but the referee waved away the appeals.
An Agnew corner then produced a period of pinball in the visitors penalty area before being cleared.
A Nicoll header failed to trouble Dean Shaw whilst Dominic Kennedy required a late intervention to prevent Rodgers adding to the lead.
Dumbarton had plenty of possession in the second period but were restricted to long range efforts, although Stewart Kean had the first opportunity of the half but shot weakly.
Agnew lobbed over from 30 yards before the same player saw an effort from the same range spectacularly saved by the keeper.
Ally Graham shot well over whilst Bryan Prunty saw his effort cleared by Ross McMillan.
Graham came closer than his previous effort but the ball scraped the post on the way past. Kennedy was dispossessed close to his own penalty area but Kean shot wildly from Kenny Deuchar's square pass. Pat Walker and Graham combined to create an opening for the former but his weak effort didn't trouble Shaw.
Nugent and Prunty played a 1-2 but the full back shot wildly over the top.
As the game ran away from Dumbarton, young Frenchman Kadima Mpata was introduced and then cautioned within a minute of his arrival for a high challenge on former Son Nicky Devlin. The final effort of the game led to Shaw punching a long range Agnew free kick for a corner.
With three games left, Dumbarton will have to find some form to secure a place in the play-offs.
With games at home to Airdrie United and Brechin City either side of a visit to Stirling, up to six points may be required to finish in the top four.
Dumbarton: Grindlay, Nugent, Creaney, (Mpata 78), Nicoll, Kennedy, McNiff, (Walker 65), Graham, Wallace, Prunty, Agnew, Dargo. Subs not used: Lyden, Gray, Gastal.
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