Montrose1–3Dumbarton

WHISPER it - that last-minute goal for Brechin is starting to feel like a very long time ago.

Dumbarton haven't lost since that day which, come the next matchday against Airdrie, will be more than two months in the past.

Even a few miles down the road from Glebe Park, they were too clinical for a Montrose side who played some tidy stuff, but struggled to land any convincing blows.

In saying that, this was a game which, on another day, could have gone in alternative directions.

On another day, Martin Rennie's penalty, within a minute of Dom Thomas' opening goal, goes in, instead of hitting the bar.

On another day, one of the Gable Endies' chances to reduce the deficit to 3-2 goes in, and who knows what finish you've got?

Fortunately, Thomas' opening goal was one of two he scored, either side of Calum Gallagher getting the second for Sons. The February League One player of the month is already off to a convincing start to land the prize for March as well.

As is Jim Duffy towards retaining his manager of the month prize as well. The reputed curse did not strike in this game.

After Grant Adam did well to save a bending effort from Andrew Steeves, Thomas was off and running after 17 minutes.

The keeper blocked his initial effort at close range, but the ball spun back towards goal and after reaching it, Thomas had more or less an empty goal to place it in.

Within 60 seconds, though, that lead could have been removed. Craig Barr dived into a tackle on Chris Antoniazzi for a penalty to Montrose, but Rennie's penalty went over after striking the woodwork.

With the two defences growing stuffier as the game went on, the next goal was vital, and it came seven minutes from half time.

Thomas turned provider this time, sending in a low ball from the left which Gallagher buried from 10 yards.

But six minutes after the restart, the lead was reduced. Multiple opportunities to clear a corner were not executed fully, and Dillon's looping header found the net.

Soon after, Steeves' low ball looked from the far end as if it had found Lewis Milne at the back post. Fortunately it hadn't, and the midfielder missed out on the vital touch.

That escape proved even more profitable on the hour mark, when the home keeper's effort to kick the ball out only resulted in it getting caught in the wind.

It dropped for Gallagher, who set up Thomas for a shot which the keeper got a hand to, but couldn't stop from finding the net.

Montrose certainly didn't chuck it, though, and Adam saved well from Ian Campbell before Milne's shot from the edge of the area just missed the target.

Thomas, though, was clearly looking for consecutive away hat-tricks, and just missed the upright with an effort from distance with 15 minutes to play.

In the closing minutes of the game, his low, angled drive went just past the post.

The run goes on, and nobody has any plans to let it stop. Except Airdrie, who will have a go at doing so on Saturday.