SFL Div 1 play-off: Dumbarton 2 Airdrie United 1

Sports Journalist

Thursday 17 May 2012

IT'S only half time .

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Christopher Jack at Strathclyde Homes Stadium

. . the words that Alan Adamson and Jimmy Boyle will likely drum into their players in the coming days, but it is the Dumbarton manager who will surely be happier this morning after their 2-1 first-leg win over Airdrie. At the end of the 36-game league campaign, just a handful of points separated these two and there was little to choose in their fifth meeting of the season. Their sixth, and final, encounter will prove decisive, however.

It was Airdrie who would start the brightest at the Rock as they went in search of a crucial early goal but Nathan Blockley, Sean Lynch and Ryan Donnelly couldn't find a way past home goalkeeper Stephen Grindley.Their pressure was to prove to no avail, however, as Dumbarton found the breakthrough. Grant Adam, the on-loan Rangers youngster, had precious little to do in the opening exchanges and, when he was finally called into action, it was to pick the ball out of his net after being beaten by Bryan Prunty's curling effort into the top corner.Minutes later, Airdrie's frustrations were compounded as Adamson's side doubled their advantage. Tony Wallace met Scott Agnew's teasing free kick from the left flank and fired a bullet header beyond Adam.The match was in danger of slipping away from Airdrie as Dumbarton's confidence grew but the visitors were handed a lifeline before the break as Wallace fouled Jamie Stevenson and referee Iain Brines pointed to the spot.Grindley made a superb save to deny Jamie Bain but luck was not on his side, with the midfielder reacting quickest to the rebound and firing high into the net from a tight angle.The second half was no less frenetic, with Airdrie piling on the pressure in search of an equaliser. Donnelly came closest, connecting with a Holmes knock-down and firing over the bar but the crucial second goal was never to come, with the only negative for Dumbarton a late red card for Paul Nugent after a second bookable offence.

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SFL Div 1 play-off: Dumbarton 2 Airdrie United 1

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