Dumbarton 2
Kilmarnock 4
League Cup (Group H)

Match Report

DUMBARTON were only ever behind for the final 14 minutes of this match.

Double that time, and you've got all the time a class act needs to change a game.

The two Barrs, Craig and Bobby, struck for Sons either side of a Mikael Ndjoli equaliser for Kilmarnock to put an impressive result in real prospect.

But Kris Boyd, despite having only 18 international caps to show for it, has for over 10 years been doing what strikers are ultimately supposed to do - score.

There's nothing overly fancy about his game. He just knows how to put the ball between the posts and under the bar. Knows it very well, in fact.

He proved that after starting this game in the 62nd minute, and finishing with the match ball. His three goals turned a losing position for Killie into what at least looks to the non-observers like a comfortable winning one.

Dumbarton, after a positive afternoon's work, got no reward. Arguably, though, the most important part of the day was to avoid any injuries, which they did succeed in doing.

If Sons are to qualify for the second round, they will have to buck a trend. No team has qualified for the last 16 of the Betfred Cup with less than nine points. Even if Dumbarton win at St Mirren in 90 minutes in their final tie, they will have eight.

They are still top of the group, but can only see where they are after the other four teams in it play on Tuesday.

It would be wrong to say that Kilmarnock had the better of the first half territorially, although they did not get many chances to ram home that advantage.

Indeed, after Andy Dowie did well to block an Ndjoli shot, his opposite number defenders, Stuart Findlay and Greg Taylor, were forced off injured after a clash of heads.

Chris Burke was narrowly off target with a shot while Grant Adam, still to concede a competitive goal as a Sons player at this point, saved from Ndjoli.

Then five minutes from half time, Dumbarton had an opportunity when they were awarded a free kick out on the right.

It turned out to be more than an opportunity as Craig Barr met Michael Paton's free kick and powerfully headed home.

A Lee Erwin header then hit the upright - was everything set up for Sons to cause a shock?

Within three minutes of the second half, it wasn't, as Ndjoli shot home on the turn from 15 yards.

On the hour mark, another Paton delivery found Barr at the far post, but he couldn't force it home.

Five minutes later, though, his namesake Bobby did. After Ryan Thomson cleverly left Rory Loy's through ball into the area, Barr rolled it home.

But three minutes was as long as that lead lasted, as a mishit clearance fell for Boyd to snap up.

He almost had another a minute later, but his header was straight at Adam.

Then on 76 minutes Sons were behind for the first time in the day, indeed this season. Boyd got to a corner in the area and headed home.

And a minute from full time, his personal rescue mission was complete when he intercepted a slack pass and ran in to finish.

Just in case you needed reminded how cruel football can be.

Match report written by Andy Galloway