It was an all too familiar story at the Rock on Saturday as Dumbarton scored three goals yet were unable to win the match. Last season the Sons scored an impressive 58 league goals, three more than third placed Falkirk, but conceded 83, 18 more than any other team, apart from Airdrie, and although Saturday's team featured a number of new players, the pattern of the match was very similar to a number of games last season.
Dumbarton took an early lead through Mark Gilhaney, but Thistle raced back into the game with goals from James Craigen, Ross Forbes and Stephen O'Donnell, giving the visitors a 3-1 half time lead.
While the Sons pulled a goal back through Scott Agnew, Thistle trialist Mark Kerr again extended their lead and although Mitch Megginson scored another Sons goal, the SPL side held on for a 4-3 win.
Ian Murray used the match to have a look centre half Ross Smith, who the Sons boss was wanting to see in action before deciding whether or not to sign him on loan from Dundee United.
Last season's midfield of Gilhaney, Agnew, Chris Turner and Steven McDougall were re-united for the first time this summer while ahead of them was the new strikeforce of Megginson and Smith.
The Sons got off to a great start and took the lead after just five minutes when Paul McGinn charged down the right wing and played a neat one two with Gilhaney, the right back's shot was blocked but the ball fell to Steven McDougall who crossed to the back post for Gilhaney to head home the Sons into the lead.� The visitors hit back almost immediately and were level just five minutes later when Craigen was sent through the centre of the Sons defence and slotted the ball by Stephen Grindlay.
Thistle continued pushing for more goals and Grindlay did well to claw away John Baird's header after 12 minutes.
However, the keeper was helpless in the 19th minute when the impressive Steven Lawless took the ball from the halfway line and ran at the Sons defence before laying off Forbes who sent the ball low across Grindlay to give the Jags a 2-1 lead.
The Sons fought back and Steven McDougall went close with an effort from the edge of the Thistle box but the recently promoted Jags extended their lead shortly after when Grindlay could only punch a cross as far as Stephen O'Donnell who thrashed the ball into the net.
Sons boss Ian Murray was disappointed with his team's first half performance, but they wasted no time in starting a second half comeback when Gilhaney played the ball inside to Agnew to fire home from 12 yards after just four second half minutes.
The goal of the game came after 56 minutes when Thistle trialist Kerr was given time and space 25 yards from goal and he took full advantage picking out Grindlay's top corner to reinstate the visitor's two goal lead.
Just two minutes later former Dumbarton man Forbes almost outdid Kerr with a lob from 40 yards.
The effort had Grindlay scrambling but much to his relief, the ball rebounded back off the crossbar.
Both teams then made a series of changes with Bryan Prunty and Nicky Phinn replacing Chris Turner and Mark Gilhaney, followed shortly after by Garry Fleming replacing Kevin Smith.
Dumbarton kept battling and the new front three combined well to pull back another goal.
Prunty played in Fleming who squared the ball for Megginson, giving the former Aberdeen man a simple tap in at the back post.� With both teams making further changes, the match petered out as the substitutions breaking up the flow of the game.
Although the Sons fell to defeat and conceded four goals, Ian Murray can take heart from the three goals his team scored against a strong SPL side.
Sons: Grindlay, McGinn, Linton, S Smith (McNiff), R Smith, Turner (Phinn), Gilhaney (Prunty), Agnew, Megginson, K Smith (Fleming), McDougall (McKerracher) Unused subs: Horne, Coleman, Ronald, Ewings
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