Forfar Athletic 2-4 Dumbarton - Hilton grabs chance with dazzling display

Jinky Hilton marked his first start since September with a starring role, as Sons hit four on the road for the third time in the League Two season.

The attacker scored the opener and played a key role in three more goals as Stevie Farrell’s men bounced back from late disappointment against Stenhousemuir a week earlier.

And the boss was pleased with his squad’s showing - in a game where they were without goalkeeper Brett Long, skipper Mark Durnan and forward Ryan Wallace.

Farrell said: “I think Forfar are a good side and the first-half was really competitive.

“But over the 90 minutes I felt we deserved the result. I thought we were the better side, but we knew we’d have to earn the right to leave with three points.

“When you score four goals away from home then you’ve got to be really pleased.

“We showed a resilience. And that’s something we’ve shown a lot this season.

“It was a real squad effort.”

With goalkeeper Brett Long ruled out long-term with a broken ankle, 20-year-old Harry Broun was handed his first league start since May between the sticks.

Hilton replaced the ill Ryan Wallace in the other change from the side which had lost late-on to League Two leaders Stenhousemuir last weekend.

The early minutes set the tone for a very open half of football.

Sons’ Michael Ruth should’ve done better with a free header from Kalvin Orsi’s superb inswinging cross.

At the other end, Broun’s first touch was a good one - as he comfortably held Lewis Moore’s volley from the edge of the box.

With 16 minutes played, Dumbarton found a breakthrough - albeit with a slice of good fortune.

Strong running from Michael Ruth down the left saw him tee up Jinky Hilton, and the midfielder’s low effort found the net - via a deflection that