Match Report
Leighton McIntosh and Ally Roy both netted doubles as Dumbarton came out on top in a seven goal Galabank thriller.
Both strikers were on target to have Sons 2-0 to the good in a first-half which had been far from easy, before the same two struck early in the second period – as Sons looked like coasting to a win.
However Willie Gibson’s hosts had other ideas, as they netted three times in the final 20 minutes to set up a grandstand finish.
Ryan Blair returned from suspension in place of Carrick McEvoy in the only change to the side which had drawn with Elgin a week previous.
The tone for an end-to-end 90 minutes was set inside the opening 90 seconds, with Scott Tomlinson’s fizzed cross narrowly evading Ally Roy – before Annan’s Myles Gaffney was denied at point blank range by Shay Kelly, albeit with the flag already raised.
It was the home side who looked to carry to the bigger threat early on however, with Kelly superbly denying Aidan Smith from close range after a quick throw-in caught Sons napping, before Gaffney’s glanced header was off target.
In response, Adam Livingstone tried his luck from long range, but saw the ball spin off a defender and over the bar – whilst at the other end Kelly again saved well from Tam Muir.
Then, as the game neared the half hour, Sons took the lead – in a now trademark style.
Ryan Blair’s deep corner was sent back into the area by Morgyn Neill, with Leighton McIntosh towering above everyone to guide a header into the far corner of the net for his first Dumbarton goal.
It was almost 2-0 moments later as a slick move involving Livingstone, Dom Docherty and Scott Tomlinson sent McIntosh clear, but he was denied one-on-one by Annan keeper Zach Balfour.
There was then a let off for Sons as Tommy Muir flicked a header narrowly wide of the far post, before Stevie Farrell’s men doubled their lead. Albeit in bizarre circumstances.
A long ball forward saw a breakdown in communication between Balfour and a defender, with the grateful Ally Roy on hand to touch the loose ball into the empty net from four yards.
The second-half started with Sons well on top, and a third goal took just five minutes to arrive.
A driving Dom Docherty run split the Annan backline, before the former Galabankie unselfishly played in McIntosh – who drilled low beyond Balfour and into the net.
Superb play then sent Ally Roy clear, with his cutback inches away from being turned in by McIntosh for a hat-trick – but Sons wouldn’t be denied a fourth for long.
Scott Tomlinson skipped by a challenge and delivered a cross that was perfectly controlled by Roy on his chest, before he arrowed a clinical strike into the net to send the away fans into dreamland.
Annan had looked shellshocked, but dusted themselves down to net what looked like a consolation as substitute Euan Deveney’s cross was arrowed into the top corner by Max Kilsby.
That appeared to spark Sons back into life, with only a fine Balfour save denying Roy a hat-trick – and Morgyn Neill then cracking the bar from Ryan Blair’s corner.
A quadruple substitution for Dumbarton followed, with Annan seizing the chance to try and mount a fightback.
Aidan Smith tried his luck from the edge of the area, with Shay Kelly only pushing the ball as far as Tam Muir – but somehow, from the edge of the six yard box, he blazed over.
Namesake Ryan then flashed a low drive wide of the far post, before a clumsy Mark Durnan challenge on Muir with 10 minutes remaining saw referee Stewart Luke point to the spot.
Aidan Smith hammered his effort beyond Kelly, with Annan then throwing everything they had at Sons.
Thankfully for Dumbarton however, they wouldn’t find the net again until deep into injury time as the ever-dangerous Tam Muir guided in a header – but the away side held on for another vital three points.
Annan Athletic 3
60′ Max Kilby, 83′ Aidan Smith (P), 90’+4 Tommy Muir
Yellow Cards: 45’+2 Josh Todd, 87′ William Gibson
Dumbarton 4
28′ 50′ Leighton McIntosh, 39′ 57′ Ally Roy
Yellow card: 48′ Mark Durnan
Referee: Stewart Luke
Attendance: 402