Dumbarton throw away the game at Forfar

First published as Sons lose out to Forfar counter punch and adapted as the match report on the official DFC website. Also used in Sons View for the Brechin game on 29 January 2011.

Sons push forward against Forfar

After looking in control for significant periods of the game, and leading at half time, Dumbarton slumped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Forfar Athletic this evening, following two minutes of madness.

The game began in a pacey fashion, with Sons launching wave after wave of attack but not quite finding the final openings on goal. Pat Walker looked particularly lively for Dumbarton, and on 15 minutes Mark Gilhaney blasted just wide of Scott Gallagher's upright post on the right.

It was 20 minutes before the Loons pushed forward in a concerted fashion. A period of sustained Forfar pressure culminated in a desperate goalmouth scramble on 25 minutes, with only the bar and Grindlay's fist sparing the home side embarrassment.

Then Sons broke suddenly and rapidly. A swift-footed Pat Walker penetrated the away defence and slotted the resulting chance in with aplomb, making it 1-0 to Dumbarton. The goal came against the immediate run of play, but fairly reflected Sons' overall dominance.

Both teams wrestled to get control of the game in midfield as the half moved to a close, with Walker engineering two more near chances for Sons, but only the bar prevented a last minute Loons equaliser.
The two sides stayed evenly balanced in the opening period of the second half. Forfar sought to create fresh options up front with a double substitution on 64 minutes, but Sons remained initially solid at the back, despite several testing moments.

However on 71 minutes it began to fall apart dramatically for Dumbarton, with first the visitors' striker Martin Fotheringham and then sub Bryan Deasley bursting through to equalise at 1-1, and then make it 2-1 to Forfar. Both goals were the result of defensive slips. Sons looked shellshocked at the sudden reversal, while the Loons continued to push forward, scenting further advantage.

Dumbarton tried to regroup and counter attack, but as the minutes ticked away the frustration continued. With another defeat, Sons remain rooted at the foot of the Second Division table.
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