Dumbarton boss Stevie Farrell was left blown away by his side’s first-half performance in the win at Clyde on Saturday – but admits the second-half showing pleased him even more.

Sons showed no sign of fatigue following their midweek defeat against Queen’s Park at Firhill, scoring three times in the opening 21 minutes.

Ross MacLean hit a fine double either side of a seventh of the season for skipper Stuart Carswell to all but end the contest in the opening exchanges.

And though former Dumbarton man Robert Jones pulled one back for Clyde before the break, Farrell’s troops held out relatively comfortably after the interval to climb to seventh in the League One standings.

Faz was delighted with the two different types of performance on display by Sons and has been left buoyant after recent form.

Speaking post-match, he said: “In the first-half I was pleased with the intensity, particularly after playing midweek as well. For a part-time club, we showed our fitness levels.

“The intensity we played at in the first 35 minutes, I don’t think Clyde could deal with it. It should have been 6-1 at half-time. It’s not just half chances, it’s unbelievable chances.

“The second half actually pleased me more because all season I’ve been talking about intelligence and game management and in the second-half we were excellent.

“We managed the game. They never looked a threat and [goalkeeper Kieran] Wright has come and taken a couple of brilliant balls out the air that just takes the pressure off you.

“All round it was a really good performance and an important three points.

“We had to go and play differently in the second-half but that’s the most pleasing thing. We managed it with a real game intelligence.”

And after a rocky festive season, and a new year which began with defeats to Airdrie and Falkirk, Farrell says he’s delighted with the form his team has shown since beating East Fife in mid-January.

“We’ve not only beat East Fife and come here and beat Clyde, but also competed with arguably three of the top teams in the division and not looked out of place at all,” he said.

There was also praise for MacLean who netted twice – and Farrell is delighted at the way he has transitioned from a winger to a striker.

He explained: “When ‘Chuckie’ is playing like that he’s a top player at this level.

“He’s a goal threat and he’s bringing goals to his game.

“I like him up top, I think he’s a better 9 than he is an 11.

“We’ve taken a gamble with that and convinced him that that is where we want to play him and where we believe is his best position and I think you’re seeing that.”