Dumbarton boss Stevie Farrell was an angry man after his request for a water break for players during Sons' final Premier Sports Cup group match was refused.

Farrell told the Reporter he had asked ref Mike Roncone for a break in play during the first half of Tuesday night's 2-0 defeat to Partick Thistle at Firhill, but his request was turned down.

Sons skipper Stuart Carswell, who had been working outdoors earlier in the day, was forced to come off at half-time with suspected heatsrtoke.

Farrell said: "Carsy was feeling sick and dizzy, we actually think it was sunstroke from working today.

“The fact we asked for a water break and they wouldn’t give us it in the first half, and I told Mike Roncone, I’m not happy.

“I don’t think it’s right a part-time club is expected to do that when people have been out in the sun working all day. That’s not acceptable.

“I think players’ welfare and safety is more important than any game of football, it would have taken nothing to stop the game for two or three minutes and let people have a drink of water.”

Brian Graham's double either side of the break ensured victory for the Jags – and also ensured Dumbarton would finish bottom of Group H without a point.

But Farrell was a far happier man after Tuesday's game than he'd been following the 5-1 reversal away to Dunfermline three days earlier.

The four players whose enforced self-isolation following a Covid test contributed to the club having to forfeit their opening group tie against St Mirren due to a lack of players – Joe McKee, Kalvin Orsi, Carlo Pignatiello and Edin Lynch – all returned to the starting 11, while there was a spot on the bench for Mark Lamont, who re-joined the club on Monday for a third spell at The Rock.

Speaking post-match, Farrell said: “The first 15 minutes of the first half I thought was pretty even and I thought in the last 25 we were the better side by far.

“We had two chances cleared off the line and we passed the ball really well with purpose.

“I just felt the structure looked really good and then we lose the goal. That’s naivety and I’ve said that to them; they’ve just got to be a wee bit more streetwise.

“You’ve got to know in your own body clock when it’s coming to half-time or full-time. They are key moments in the game. If we don’t lose that then you just never know.

“There’s a lot to be positive about and I’m a happier man tonight than I was on Saturday."

Faz plans to give his side the weekend off as Sons have no game ahead of the start of the league season against Clyde at Broadwood on Saturday, July 31.