Dumbarton 2-1 Airdrie: Sons on top but Bain gives Airdrie hope

Dumbarton head to Airdrie on Sunday with the slenderest of advantages after an open and exciting First Division Play-off final first leg that was a great advert for football in the lower leagues for watching SFA chief executive Stewart Regan.

Two goals in quick succession looked to have the home side in command of the tie, however Airdrie United hit back before the break in a game that could have ended several goals apiece.

The attacking action started early with the Diamonds’ Nathan Blockley bursting through a line of home defenders in the opening minute, however he hesitated when he saw goalkeeper Stephen Grindlay approaching and failed to get any power into an effort into goal.

Dumbarton grabbed the opener on 29 minutes when Mark Gilhaney found Bryan Prunty and the former Airdrie man created space before firing in a right foot shot that flashed past Grant Adam and high into the net.

The Sons had a toe in the First Division three minutes later when Tony Wallace ran onto a curling Scott Agnew free-kick from the left and planted a firm header past Adam.

Wallace then turned sinner as he was judged to have brought down Jamie Stevenson to give Airdrie a softish spot-kick three minutes from the break. Grindlay produced a great save to keep out Jamie Bain’s initial effort, however the Airdrie ace ran in to slam home rebound.

The end-to-end nature of the contest continued after the break but there were no more goals. Martin McNiff hit the outside of the post before there was drama deep in injury time as Prunty missed when clean through and then home captain Paul Nugent was dismissed after collecting his second yellow card.

Dumbarton: Grindlay, Nugent, Creaney, Lithgow, McNiff, Gilhaney (Lamont 39), Wallace (Gray 85), Nicoll, Prunty, Agnew, Walker (Graham 72). Subs not used: Kennedy, Ewings.

Airdrie United: Adam, Stallard, Lovering, McDonald (McNeil 46), Lilley, Lynch, Bain (McLaren 72), Blockley, Holmes, Donnelly (Boyle 85), Stevenson. Subs not used: Busch, White.

Referee: I Brines. Attendance: 1,746.