Dumbarton1–4Forfar Athletic

Stevie Farrell said the Sons faithful had every right to boo his side off after a home humbling against Forfar.

 

Some disastrous first-half defending saw Dumbarton 3-1 down at half-time against the in-form Loons, before Martin Rennie’s stunning free-kick early in the second period killed the game as a contest.

 

And the home support at The Marbill Coaches Stadium made their feelings clear following a third straight loss.

 

The boss said: “The players are in there hurting. We’re all hurting. But you’ve got to stand up and take it. Coming off the pitch, you hear the boos, and quite rightly so. I’ve no issue with that.

 

“At the start of the season, we took all the praise and plaudits. We all did. We came off to standing ovations, and rightly so. But recently, apart from the Annan game, we’ve not picked up the points we should. Now it’s about battening down the hatches, working really hard, and getting ready for the Scottish Cup against Auchinleck Talbot next weekend.”

 

Sons added skipper Mark Durnan and winger Scott Tomlinson to an increasingly lengthy injury list following defeat to Stenhousemuir midweek, with five members of the club’s under-20s squad called up to the bench.

 

Things got off to the worst possible start with just five minutes on the clock, as the wait for a first League Two clean sheet of the season stretched to 15 games.

 

Mark Whatley’s free-kick was floated into the area for Stuart Morrison to guide a simple header beyond Shay Kelly and into the net.

 

Sons responded strongly. Tony Wallace breezed by a defender before twisting and turning in the box, but was denied by a last ditch challenge.

 

Good link-up between Adam Livingstone and Chris Johnston then saw the diminutive winger dance his way into the area, but he looked for a pass when shooting could’ve been the better option.

 

After Dom Docherty had bent an effort wide from range, Sons found the leveller they had been threatening.


Docherty’s clever quick free-kick caught the Forfar defence napping and sent Leighton McIntosh in on goal, and League Two’s top scorer made no mistake by prodding beyond Neil Stafford in the away goal.

 

The goal music had barely stopped playing when the Loons retook the lead.

 

Strong play from goalscorer Morrison saw him outmuscle Cammy Clark and deliver a cross into the area that was initially swiped at by Scott Shepherd. Angus Mailer was the first to respond, with his effort superbly kept out by Shay Kelly - but the midfielder was alert to smash in the rebound.

 

Clark could’ve atoned for his error as he bulleted a free-header from Adam Livingstone’s swirling corner over the bar, before the Loons again took advantage of some generous Dumbarton defending to extend their lead.

 

Martin Rennie sent Scott Shepherd racing clear from inside his own half, and he made no mistake with a clinical first-time finish beyond the onrushing Kelly.

 

Already on a booking, Sons midfielder Dom Docherty was given a final warning by referee Daniel Graves for three more fouls - and was quickly hooked just before half-time for Ryan Blair.

 

What was fast becoming a disastrous day at the office got even worse early in the second-half.

 

Cammy Clark clattered Martin Rennie 25 yards from goal, with the forward picking himself up to arrow in a superb free-kick.

 

Things should’ve got even better for the Loons, with Sons’ keeper Kelly making impressive close range saves from earlier goalscorers Morrison and Shepherd.

 

Dumbarton’s bleak afternoon meanwhile ended on a suitably negative note as they were forced to finish the game with 10 men, with substitute Ryan Blair forced off with a knock after finding himself on the end of a late Morrison challenge.