Matchday 32/36 saw Dumbarton F.C. travel to the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park to face Forfar Athletic. The home side were looking to bounce back from an away loss at The Spartans, where their 11-game unbeaten run was ended. Dumbarton had maintained inconsistent form since the sides last met, but look set to finish in the play-off spots. Referee Joel Kennedy oversaw proceedings, and Forfar kicked off in front of 616 fans, with a respectable away support from West Dumbartonshire.

Dumbarton started brightest, maintaining pressure on the Forfar box to earn the first corner of the contest. A well worked low cross kept the danger within the Forfar box, but the home side cleared well. Tony Wallace headed the ball into the Forfar net on the 10 minute mark, but the flag was up for offside immediately. Forfar keeper Marc McCallum did well to prevent a James Hilton strike and the home side were worked hard in the opening 30 to keep scores level. Forfar striker Josh Skelly found himself offside numerous times throughout the half, but his sole attempt came in the form of an audacious 40-yard chip attempt, which was comfortably saved by Dumbarton keeper Jay Hogarth. Forfar midfielder Kieran Inglis went down in the box, claiming for a penalty that was swiftly dismissed by the referee. A fairly dull first half was closed after a minute of injury time, with neither side able to open the scoring.

The second half began in a much more energetic fashion, and Forfar looked a rejuvenated side. Confusion between the Dumbarton keeper and defense left their goal momentarily open, but Inglis was unable to keep his shot on target and he blazed his strike high and wide. Moments later, Wallace was up the pitch and on the edge of the Forfar box, where some tricky play on the right hand side saw him dragged down by Tomas Brindley, with a penalty awarded for the challenge. He dusted himself down, stepped up, and rolled the ball into the right corner of the goal, to give Dumbarton a 1-0 lead on the 53rd minute. Forfar tried to bounce back quickly, but it was Dumbarton who maintained pressure on the home box in the subsequent moments. Forfar came close to equalising in the 65th minute when Dumbarton RB Aron Lynas tapped the ball almost into his own net, but it rolled behind for a corner. Forfar were at their most dominant as Skelly hit the outside of the post after working hard to keep the ball in. A free kick for the home side was tipped over by the Dumbarton keeper, and the resultant corner was headed in by Forfar, which was then denied for a foul on the keeper. The home fans were willing Forfar take advantage of this dominance, but it wasn’t to be. A counter attack in the 82nd minute saw the ball land to Dumbarton winger Carlo Pignatiello, who drilled the ball past McCallum to double the away side’s lead. Dumbarton, much to the delight of the away support, were able to comfortably see things out, and Joel Kennedy sounded his whistle after 4 minutes of injury time. Results elsewhere meant Dumbarton jumped The Spartans for 3rd place, and are only behind Peterhead on goal difference. Forfar slip below Elgin into 7th place, and points for Bonnyrigg and Clyde means they are just 5 points safe from the dreaded relegation play off place. Dumbarton are home next Saturday to Clyde, and Forfar Travel up the A90 to play Peterhead.