DUMBARTON manager Stevie Farrell wished his side put their League One play-off final first leg against Spartans to bed on Tuesday night – but admits taking a lead into the return fixture is something he would have taken every day of the week.

First-half goals from Tony Wallace and Finlay Gray had Sons in control at the break whilst Sean Crighton also had a header ruled out for offside with the hosts well on top.

Anyton Sonkur pulled one back in the early stages of the second period, despite being fortunate to avoid red for a stamp on Wallace in the first half, to give the Ainslie Park side hope heading into the second leg.

Meetings between the two sides have been tight this season and Faz is hoping for a brighter start to either half from his troops in Friday’s showdown.

Speaking post match, he said: “If somebody has said to us before the game you’ll win the game 2-1 and take that into the next leg, everyone in the stadium of a Dumbarton persuasion would have taken that.

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“It was never going to be finished tonight, we knew we were so evenly matched in terms of our league season and tonight it was two decent teams going at it.

“They put us under a bit of pressure in the first 10 minutes and we didn’t do the right things which I was disappointed with but after that we were far on top and superior offensively.

"I don’t think anybody could have complained had we gone in 3 or 4-0 at half time.

“I’m disappointed with the two ten-minute spells at the start of either half and we’ve spoken at length to make sure it doesn’t happen again because that sets the tone of the game.

“We let them back in it and they are a good side and got their tails up but we managed it well after we conceded.”

Sons take the same advantage into the second leg that they did against Stirling Albion last week having won by the same score line before earning a 0-0 draw in the return fixture to set up the meeting with Spartans.

Dumbarton’s last visit to Ainslie Park resulted in a 6-2 win for the visitors and whilst Farrell admits the job is far from done, he hopes that recent experiences can stand his side in good stead.

He added: “We were in the lead last week going into the second leg and we did very well.

“It was always about two games and we knew we had to have a plan for tonight and we will have a plan for Friday.

“The last time we went up there we were really good, I think the surface will suit us in terms of how we play.

“Spartans are going to have to open it up at some point and that might suit us but this tie is not over.

"We’ve got a lot of hard work to do if we are going to be promoted to League One.”