Dumbarton0–0Morton

SO, it's as you were.

Which, after a frustrating and fruitless afternoon in front of goal, Dumbarton will probably take.

Their game with Morton was stuffy, fitful in its progress and, for the second time this season, without a goal between Sons and the men from Greenock.

The draw was enough to ensure Dumbarton will end the season as Scotland's best part-time side for the fourth consecutive time.

It might not have been enough to keep them above second-bottom Livingston in the Championship table.

But Livi registered exactly the same scoreline at home to the now-relegated Alloa Athletic, keeping the gap at two points.

Sons also have a game in hand over the Almondvale side, with both facing tricky road trips on Tuesday.

While Livingston visit Hibs, Dumbarton hope to gatecrash Rangers' title party at Ibrox. The attacking threat they will need to do that was not in huge evidence against Morton, but the defensive solidity was.

After events in the previous game, away to Queen of the South, the defensive side of the team largely succeeded in making up for it.

Attack-wise, there was a promising start after two minutes. Mark Docherty, returning from suspension, sent in a free kick which Christian Nade headed narrowly wide with the keeper motionless.

But like most of the afternoon, the pace did not last.

Morton tested Jamie Ewings twice in the first half, with Bobby Barr and Denny Johnstone each seeing an effort turned away by the keeper and cleared by the defence.

For Sons, Frazer Wright's glancing header was narrowly off target before Paul Heffernan had the chance of a goal on his first start for the club.

After connecting with a superb cross by Nade, he was denied at close range by the keeper. He then met Garry Fleming's header across goal, but found the angle too narrow to finish.

Johnstone, having already scored twice for Morton against Sons this season, had another opportunity to add to those, but fired wide from close range.

Just after the hour mark, Heffernan was waiting to head home Docherty's cross, but Thomas O'Ware got to it first.

However, the rest of the afternoon was tepid fare which saw Morton get closer to goal.

Luca Gasparotto's header was wide, while Paul McMullan's cross looked set to find Johnstone for a tap-in.

But Gregor Buchanan's headed clearance ensured the scoreline remained blank.

From the resulting corner, Ross Forbes drilled a shot against the post, with O'Ware scrambling the rebound off target.

Soon after Buchanan was named man of the match, he had the chance to win it for Sons in the dying minutes.

However, after making space in the area, his shot was saved and although named as his team's top player, he couldn't secure a further two points.