Queen of the South 6

Dumbarton 0

By Jack Crawford

NOT for the first time this season, Dumbarton failed to build on a positive result from the previous week as they put in their worst performance of the season in a humiliating 6-0 defeat at Palmerston to Queen of the South.

It looked like a completely different side that fought back with 10 men against Falkirk last weekend as the hosts strolled to their easiest win all season in a game that easily could have been double figures.

There was only one change from that game, as Callum Waters slotted in at left back in place of the suspended Mark Docherty.

From the off it was one-way traffic, and the rest of the game would follow a similar pattern.

The first goal of the afternoon should have come after just five minutes and Sons were fortunate that Alex Harris struck the post from close range before 'keeper Jamie Ewings gathered the ball.

The closest Dumbarton got to a goal was a cross that caused a moment of panic in the Queens penalty area, but that's all it turned out to be as the ball was comfortably cleared.

Stevie Aitken's men really were struggling to get a foot on the ball and it was only a matter of time until the floodgates opened.

Sons managed to hold out for more than half an hour, but on 33 minutes The Doonhamers opened the scoring.

A corner from the right hand side was met by Darren Brownlie, and the centre half powered his header into the bottom corner.

Dumbarton did have another chance soon after the goal as Waters curled a free kick over the wall and wide of the foot of the post.

However, just before the break, the host's lead was doubled.

It was another set piece that Sons failed to deal with, and Derek Lyle took full advantage by blasting the ball into the roof of the net in the last action of the first half.

Aitken responded at half time by making a double substitution that saw Grant Gallagher and Tom Walsh replace Gregor Buchanan and Jordan Kirkpatrick.

The replacements failed to make the desired impact though as it was quickly 3-0.

Even with only 10 men on the pitch due to an injury it was all too easy for the home side.

Gary Oliver slipped the ball past Ewings and into the path of Lyle who slotted the ball into the net to kill off the game.

The hosts would take no sympathy on sorry Dumbarton, and had a fourth ruled out for a handball by Lyle.

The fourth goal wasn't far away, though, and just like the third, Sons conceded against 10 men.

Brownlie was off the pitch again receiving treatment to a head knock, but it made no difference as Harris seen his shot deflected into the back of the net past a helpless Ewings.

Queens hit five just a few minutes later, and it was Harris once more.

The winger was causing problems all afternoon and got his second when he weaved through the defence and slid the ball through the legs of Ewings.

It could have been six, but Frazer Wright cleared an effort off the line.

Dumbarton's afternoon was summed up when substitute, former Queens man Paul Heffernan, battered the ball in frustration at goal after being called offside- only to see the goalkeeper make a superb one-handed save.

When Iain Russell was introduced for the home side, it was inevitable the former Sons man would get on the scoresheet himself.

He made it half a dozen in the dying embers of the game, getting on the end of a good passing move and slamming the ball into the far corner.

Russell nearly had another goal in added time but lobbed the ball just wide of the goal.

Referee John Beaton finally blew the whistle to end a miserable day for the Dumbarton staff, players and travelling fans who made the nearly 200-mile round trip.

Sons are next in action against Morton on April 2nd, due to Hibs requesting a postponement for next week's game due to international call ups.