Sons lose to Lichties despite fightback

A DISASTROUS six-minute period in the first half cost Dumbarton dear, as they went down 4-3 to Arbroath at Gayfield, despite a fightback that almost levelled the score late in the match.

Two strikes and a free kick put the Red Lichties in a commanding position before the break, as Sons' defence looked continually vulnerable from crosses and set play situations.

But in a storming second half it was a different story. Battling Dumbarton pulled the score back to 3-2 with goals from Martin McNiff and Scott Agnew. Then just as it looked as if they might equalise, Kevin Nicoll was controversially red carded for a robust tackle.

In a frantic end to a tempestuous match, Arbroath struck again to make it 4-2. Then McNiff claimed his second from a header. But ten-man Sons ran out of time, despite maintaining the pressure right until the end. (5 Nov 2011).