Dumbarton 2-1 The Spartans - Local heroes give Sons final first leg advantage

Goals from local heroes Tony Wallace and Finlay Gray gave Dumbarton a 2-1 first leg advantage over The Spartans at a wind battered Rock.

Wallace pounced after Spartans keeper Blair Carswell misjudged a swirling Gallagher Lennon cross to give Sons a 20th minute lead, with the hosts in dreamland nine minutes later when Gray stabbed home Michael Ruth’s cutback.

The half ended with controversy as Spartans’ Ayrton Sonkur looked extremely fortunate to get away with a stamp on Ruth, whilst Sean Crighton had a third for Sons ruled out for offside.

Sonkur’s superb finish early in the second-half halved the deficit - but Sons held firm to ensure they’d take a narrow lead to the capital.

Boss Stevie Farrell stuck with the same side that had drawn 0-0 with Stirling Albion four days previous, with Jinky Hilton added to the bench.

Fresh off the back of a thumping win against Peterhead, the visitors started the brighter.

Cammy Russell’s deep corner had to be cleared by some alert Gallagher Lennon defending, before the same man curled a free-kick from 25 yards off target.

Sons responded, and a flowing move down the right saw Michael Ruth cross for Finlay Gray, but the midfield drilled narrowly over from the edge of the area.

Trademark interplay from Kalvin Orsi and Carlo Pignatiello then picked out Tony Wallace, but he couldn’t get enough on his effort and Spartans cleared.

A cute Michael Ruth pass then almost sent Gray clear, but the ball skipped off the soaking surface and was well claimed by onrushing Spartans keeper Blair Carswell.

As the game reached the 20 minute mark, Sons took the lead that their play had threatened - albeit in bizarre circumstances.

Gallagher Lennon’s deep cross was caught in the wind, deceiving keeper Carswell