Stranraer5–0Dumbarton

A nightmare first-half saw Dumbarton’s hopes of moving up to second in the League Two table crushed by Stranraer.


Ryan Blair’s second minute own goal set the tone on a disastrous evening for Stevie Farrell’s side, with the hosts adding three more goals before the break.


And a bad day at the office ended as it had started, with substitute Deryn Lang adding a fifth two minutes from time for Scott Agnew’s blues.


Dejected boss Stevie Farrell said: “The way the night started was the way it ended. We lose a goal which was totally embarrassing.


“There are a number of things we could’ve done to prevent it, and that set the tone for the night.


“They looked a threat on the counter all game, and everything they hit went in. They thoroughly deserved their victory.


“I thought we were in a good place, but we’ve let ourselves down. We got exactly what we deserved.”


Boss Farrell stuck with the same side that had defeated promotion rivals Peterhead 1-0 at The Rock four days earlier, but hopes of a second straight clean sheet were dashed inside two minutes.


Kyle Fleming dug out a cross from the Stranraer left that looked like it was going to be easily collected by Jay Hogarth, only for a breakdown in communication that saw Ryan Blair slide in in front of his keeper and poke the ball into his own net.


Quick passing on the edge of the area then opened up a chance for ex-Son Ben Armour to double the host’s lead, but he fired straight at Hogarth.


After the early blow, Dumbarton settled into the game - and should’ve been level with 12 minutes played.


Carlo Pignatiello dug out a terrific cross from the right that reached Tony Wallace at the far post, but his effort was bundled clear by Lewis Budinauckas from point-blank range.


Michael Ruth then hammered off from 25 yards after opening up space, before a clever free-kick saw Finlay Gray denied by Budinauckas.


Just as Sons looked as if they would find a leveller, the hosts added a vital second of the evening.


A quick counter-attack saw Matty Grant sent clear, and he tucked beyond Hogarth.


Incredibly the Blues then added a third with just over half an hour on the clock. And it would be thanks to some magic from man of the match Dylan Forrest.


The midfielder won back possession on the half-way line and drove through a collection of challenges before steadying himself and curling beyond Hogarth from inside the box.


Sons should’ve cut the deficit when Carlo Pignatiello’s cross was knocked over by Michael Ruth, however they were then fortunate as Stranraer sprang Sons’ offside trap and looked destined for a fourth - only for Scott Robertson to somehow be denied by Hogarth, before blazing the rebound over.


The in-form Ruth was then denied one-on-one by Budinauckas, before the Blues put the result beyond any doubt in the second minute of first-half injury time.


Slack defending saw Matty Grant denied by the crossbar, with former Son Ben Armour in the right spot to tap in a seventh career goal against Dumbarton from little more than a yard out.


James Graham and Kalvin Orsi replaced David Wilson and Aron Lynas at half-time as boss Farrell shuffled his pack, with the second-half a far less action-packed affair.


Sean Crighton narrowly headed Ryan Blair’s corner over, whilst great skill from Cian Newbury presented a chance for the ever-dangerous Ruth - but he curled narrowly over as Sons’ search for a consolation proved fruitless.


Substitute Deryn Lang then ensured a perfect evening for the Stair Park side ended in the perfect way.


A high ball caught out the Dumbarton backline, with the former Lanark United frontman drilling a fifth of the game beyond Hogarth.