Mark Stowe’s fourth goal of the season wasn’t quite enough to set up the comeback required to claw back the first half deficit as The Spartans were narrowly edged out by Dumbarton at the Vanloq Community Stadium.
Douglas Samuel made one change from the XI that defeated East Kilbride on the opening day of the season, with suspended Cammy Russell replaced by Bailey Dall. Jordan Tapping’s international clearance approval saw the defender return to the squad, taking up a place on the bench.
Bradley Whyte made his 150th appearance on a blustery afternoon in North Edinburgh against a Dumbarton side who also got out the traps on the opening day with a win.
Mark Stowe was the first to offer a chance, only to look on as his effort on goal went wide. His next adventure into the box saw Neill appear to use both hands to send the Spartans striker to the ground, but any appeals were waved aside by the match officials.
Despite the early home pressure, it was the visitors who took the lead. Docherty’s corner looked to have been caught by the wind and was deflected beyond Paddy Martin by a Spartans head and into the net.
Stowe continued to threaten and almost immediately carved open an equaliser, but for Kelly to block the initial shot. The rebound was then distributed towards Jamie Dishington only for him to be beaten to the ball by a Dumbarton defender.
On the half hour, the Sons doubled their lead courtesy of Kirkpatrick who was the last put his laces on the ball after a bit of a stramash inside the Spartans box.
Paddy Martin ensured Spartans remained in the game at the end of the first half, pulling off a sensational stop in a one-on-one with McIntosh.
HT: The Spartans 0-2 Dumbarton
Spartans got all to the perfect start after the interval when Mark STOWE halved the deficit, latching onto the ball and from deep inside the box, he launched an unstoppable drive into the back of the net.
The hosts were to take confidence from that early strike, pressing hard for what in turn proved to be an elusive equaliser.
Another run by Stowe saw him raced into the box, round the keeper however with a narrow angle in front of him, his snap shot was to go wide of the target.
Jordan Tapping made his return in Spartans colours with a quarter of an hour left on the Village Hotel sponsored scoreboard, replacing Kieran Watson.
Moments later, after initial confusion surrounding a booking, Dumbarton’s Blair was to receive his second caution of the afternoon and offered first dibs on the showers.
A double throw of the dice by Douglas Samuel saw new recruit Ethan Drysdale and Blair Henderson replace Whyte and Dall.
Drysdale almost made the ideal impact when he looked to get in between Walker and keeper only for the latter to smother the ball and diffuse the threat.
FT: The Spartans 1-2 Dumbarton
