Dumbarton 2 Airdrie United 1 review

Apr 22 2012 By Colin Paterson

Jimmy Boyle

IRN-BRU SECOND DIVISION:

DUMBARTON 2

AIRDRIE 1

AIRDRIE face a nervy end to the season after promotion play-off rivals Dumbarton came from behind to win at The Rock.

Willie McLaren put the Diamonds ahead in the 55th minute on Saturday but ex-New Broomfield forward Bryan Prunty equalised soon after.

The Sons then went in front when Mark Gilhaney's free-kick was headed into his own net by centre-back David Lilley.

Lilley hit the bar at the right end before top goalscorer Ryan Donnelly had a goal controversially disallowed for offside in the 89th minute.

To make matters worse for Airdrie, Donnelly was sent-off for lashing out at Kevin Nicoll and will now miss the final two games of the regular season.

The Diamonds remain in fourth place in the SFL2 table but are tied on 48 points with Stenhousemuir in fifth and next weekend's opponents East Fife in sixth.

Airdrie boss Jimmy Boyle was unhappy with the offside ruling and said: "We didn't defend things properly but I don't think we got the breaks.

"I've watched the disallowed goal again. Their right-back is playing everyone onside."

But Sons gaffer Alan Adamson had a different view and said: "The goal was two yards offside. The first thing I looked for was the flag going up.

"It was backs to the wall at times but this performance showed the fighting spirit we have here at Dumbarton."

Dumbarton: Grindlay; Nugent, Lithgow, McNiff, Creaney; Nicoll; Graham, Agnew, Grindlay; Prunty (Dargo 80), Walker.

Subs not used: Wallace, Gray, Kennedy, Gastal(gk).

Booked: Nugent, Creaney, Agnew, Dargo.   Airdrie: Adam; McNeil, Lilley (Lamie 90), MacDonald, Lovering; Stevenson, Stallard, Blockley (Bain 75), McLaren; Holmes, Donnelly (Sally 75).   Subs not used: Watt, Duncan(gk).   Booked: Lovering, Stevenson, Holmes, Bain.   Sent-off: Donnelly.   Referee: John McKendrick.   Attendance: 1,088.