Dumbarton United extended their lead at the top of the table with a 4-2 win over Obain Saints, meaning they are now unbeaten in the opening thirteen league games. 

 

A double from Ryan Clifford and goals from Kieran and Jamie Lang gave United the win over Oban Saints, who had Rory Dowd and Scott Mossman on target.

 

It was Dumbarton who started on the front foot, twice squandering chances to take the lead. First, Cameron Ritchie’s through ball just evaded Clifford, who slid in at the back post. Then, Dylan Brown’s defence splitting pass found Clifford who rounded the keeper, before Saints defender Jordan MacKay recovered expertly to divert the ball wide.

 

Down had an exquisite free kick finger tipped over the bar soon after, but with eight minutes played it was Oban who opened the scoring. After a neat interchange of passing that centred around Cameron Kerr, the ball broke to midfielder Rory Dowd, who placed his right footed effort into the bottom corner from twenty yards out.

 

Midway through the half, United got themselves level. A rasping drive from Ritchie wasn’t held by Ferguson, and Clifford was alert to pounce and slam the ball into the net for his first of the afternoon.

 

Influential Saints winger Kerr was again involved in a promising move, this time when he was sent through one on one after patient and intricate build up play. The pacey wide men attempted to side foot home, but Evan Currie in the Dumbarton goal spread himself well to deny Kerr.

 

Having been behind, Dumbarton then took the lead less than ten minutes later. A miscommunication in the Saints defence allowed Clifford a one on one with Ferguson, with the striker slipping the ball under the young stopper to grab his second of the game. 

Just after the hour mark, Saints struck the equaliser. A ball over the top evaded the United back line, with Scott Mossman on hand to round the advancing goalkeeper and prodding home on the goal line. 

 

With five minutes left on the clock, the game swung in United’s favour as they were awarded a penalty kick. A bursting run from Cameron Ritchie saw the strike upended in the box, with referee Euan Birss pointing straight to the spot. Kieran Laing assumed responsibility, comfortably dispatching the penalty, leaving Ferguson rooted to the spot.

 

Two minutes before the end, United sealed the win in unconventional fashion. Good work from Aiden Fleming saw him cross the ball from the left channel, with Jamie Laing on hand to pounce on Ferguson’s spilled effort to seal all three points for Dumbarton United.