Match Report - By Steven Mew

City's recent poor run of form continued as they were swept aside by Dumbarton at the C&G Systems Stadium yesterday afternoon.

Manager Barry Smith was forced into one change from the side that lost to Alloa in the Scottish Cup last weekend, with the injured Ryan McGeever sitting out. Boris Melingui took his place as Smith opted for a more offensive setup against a Sons side struggling for consistency.

It was a fairly scrappy opening quarter of an hour with the home side first to threaten on 14 minutes. Bobby Barr burst forward on the right hand side, he fed Dom Thomas on the edge of the box who played a clever back heel for Ross Forbes who could only drill straight at Brennan.

City's first real opportunity fell to Callum Tapping four minutes later - he found some space on the edge of the box but he couldn't connect properly with the shot and the ball rolled harmlessly wide.

The Sons would come close again to the opening the scoring. Ex-City winger Barr was utilised often on the right hand side and his cross fell kindly for Calum Gallagher who shot just inches wide of the target.

City had very little success in the final third and again it was Tapping driving City forward as he burst through the heart of midfield but his end effort lacked composure, sailing over the crossbar.

On-loan Killie man Dom Thomas was causing plenty of problems for City and shortly after the half hour mark he cut inside before unleashing a low drive which had to turned round the post by Brennan for a corner.

He really should have been on the scoresheet 5 minutes later after some catastrophic defending. Euan Smith misjudged a long ball forward which allowed Thomas in but with just the keeper to beat, he shot inches past the post.

City could consider themselves fortunate to go in at the break level, however the home side would prove to be more clinical in the second period.

The Sons broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second period. Dom Thomas received the ball on the edge of the box and his effort, which looked to be heading wide, was diverted into the net by CALUM GALLAGHER.

The advantage was doubled barely two minutes later. A free kick was conceded cheaply 25 yards from goal and ROSS FORBES, who is renowned for his quality from set pieces, curled a splendid effort beyond the helpless Brennan.

Dumbarton were rampant at this stage and Michael Paton blazed over the bar twice in as many minutes. Dom Thomas then had a rasping shot from the edge of the box which stung the hands of Brennan who gathered at the second attempt.

Callum Tapping again had an effort which went of the target before Dumbarton added a third goal on 69 minutes. The impressive DOM THOMAS, who picked up the sponsors man of the match following the game, came inside and on his favoured left foot, slammed low past Brennan at the near post.

City did manage to pull a goal back two minutes later through JORDAN SINCLAIR. A cross from the left was only cleared as far as 'Sinky' whose volley into the ground looped over McDowall and into the net.

That goal gave City a glimmer of hope but given how previous 70 minutes had gone, it was unlikely to be more than a consolation. So it proved as the home side put the icing on the cake seven minutes from time.

Euan Spark was beaten for pace down the left flank and a cross into the 6 yard box was knocked home by CALUM GALLAGHER for his second of the game.

It could have easily been five for the hosts when they broke forward quickly - Michael Paton received the ball in plenty of space before shooting wide.

The result saw City slip down to 9th place in the League One table, with an important clash against 10th placed Stenhousemuir at Glebe Park on the horizon next weekend. Manager Barry Smith will be looking for a vastly improved showing from his side in order to pull away from the wrong end of the table.

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