Scorers: Stranraer – Russell (29); Dumbarton – Kirkpatrick (90+2)
An injury time strike from Kai Kirkpatrick denied Stranraer all three points against Dumbarton.
The Blues had benefited from a late, late winner at Elgin City seven days ago but they were on the receiving end at Stair Park as Mark Russell’s first half goal was cancelled out.
Chris Aitken made three changes from the trip to Borough Briggs as Deryn Lang was missing through flu while Jordan Stuart was suspended and Aaron Quigg dropped to the bench.
That meant starts for Matthew Gillies and Lewis Hunter while Russell played up front in the absence of a recognised striker.
Truth be told, it was not a game full of chances.
Stranraer’s best chance early doors would fall to Russell after Finn Ecrepont whipped in a teasing cross.
Many in Stair Park rose to their feet expecting a goal but Dumbarton goalkeeper Shay Kelly pulled off an impressive double save before the ball was scrambled clear.
Dumbarton had offered little going forward at that stage and it was no surprise that it was Stranraer who broke the deadlock.
Daniel McManus won the ball in midfield and sent it down the line for James Dolan.
The midfielder looked up and found Russell, whose low effort deceived Kelly and snuck into the net.
Still, Dumbarton could have been level and a fine team move eventually saw the ball fall to Leighton McIntosh in the Stranraer box.
His effort was on target but goalkeeper Josh Lane did superbly well to tip it over the crossbar.
Both teams had chances to be celebrating a goal within the space of 60 seconds in the second half.
Ecrepont found McManus in the box but Kelly made the block and then Dumbarton countered up the park.
Ally Roy played the ball out to Dominic Docherty but his shot from the left was just the wrong side of the far post.
The visitors were much improved after the break and enjoyed the majority of possession.
However, they failed to really work Lane as the Stranraer defence held firm.
And going into stoppage time the home side had the chance to wrap up all three points.
McManus only had Kelly to beat but his lob did not have enough on it and the goalkeeper plucked the ball out of the sky.
That miss would come back to haunt Stranraer just minutes later when Dumbarton found their equaliser.
A corner was only cleared as far as the edge of the box and Kirkpatrick did well to keep his shot down as it found the bottom corner.
Given the timing of the goal, it was a blow for the home side but Dumbarton had given their all for their new manager, former Blue Frank McKeown.
Stranraer: Lane, F Ecrepont, Reid, Rough, Dunne, Gillies, Hunter (Quigg 62), Plank (Coll 73), McManus, Dolan (S Docherty 82), Russell.
Not used: Hughes, McKnight, Sharp and Henderson.
Dumbarton: Kelly, Livingstone, Webster, Walker, Blair, Wallace (Neill 80), Johnston (Tomlinson 52), D Docherty, Kirkpatrick, Roy (Clark 87), McIntosh.
Not used: Gilfedder, Honeyman, Lynas, Marshall, McEvoy and O Ecrepont.
Referee: Gary Hanvidge
Attendance: 502
HT: 1-0
Photos: MadMac Photography
