Dumbarton 0 - 1 Queen of the South: Russell bags goal

IAIN Russell’s ninth goal of the season was enough to give dominant Doonhamers the points and extend the Sons’ sorry home record.

Playing with the stiff breeze at their backs, Queens made the running and Russell’s early cross was headed narrowly wide by Paul Burns.

Queens almost went ahead when Chris Mitchell’s deep corner was nodded back into the danger area where Chris Higgins met it with a goal-bound header. But Aaron Barry was on hand to clear.

It was temporary respite for the Sons who found themselves behind when Russell cut in from the left and saw his shot soar into the net with the aid of a deflection off the unfortunate Andy Graham.

Dumbarton rallied briefly with Mitch Megginson and Kevin Smith keeping the Doonhamers’ defence on their toes.

But the action was quickly back at the other end where Mark Durnan met Ian McShane’s corner with a firm header that went inches wide.

Home substitute Bryan Prunty almost pinched a point for the home side with an improvised toe-poke that shaved a post.

Queens had a further scare in stoppage time when Zander Clark spilled Scott Linton’s punt but Prunty headed over.