Livingston prove too strong for Dumbarton

Dumbarton found themselves on the wrong end of the clash against Second Division high-flyers Livingston at Almondvale, going down 2-0 on a cold and damp afternoon.

Dumbarton pressure the Livi goal

The early pressure came from the home team, but in the tense opening exchanges both sides struggled to move beyond a tight midfield.

After several attempts on goal from Livingston, Sons' first real opportunity came from a Jon McShane header that floated past keeper Bullock's post on 16 minutes.

However, it was Livi's Paul Watson who opened the scoring for the West Lothian team three minutes later, as Dumbarton failed to clear their lines.

McShane's fast and sharply angled shot from the edge of the area almost put the visitors back on level terms on 22 minutes.

The two sides then probed for a further breakthrough without success, as the first half gradually petered out. On a slippery pitch, the Lions were keeping a tighter grip on both the turf and the ball, however.

As the second half opened, Livi pressed hard and Stephen Grindlay spared Sons further blushes with a good smothering save from close range. The Lions' number 9 then blazed well wide on 53 minutes, as Dumbarton found themselves scrambling to clear.

Sons' new Falkirk loanee Craig McLeish struck a good effort on 65 minutes. However most of the pressure continued to come from Livingston. With 18 minutes to go Dumbarton were awarded a free-kick on the edge if the area, but Jon McShane blasted wide.

Ryan McStay was thrown into the fray for Dumbarton on 83 minutes. Sons laboured hard without reward against confident opponents. But Livingston turned out comfortable winners after former Sons man Iain Russell weaved through the defence to make it 2-0.
-----------