Dumbarton 0 Peterhead 1
Dumbarton were seen off 1-0 by Peterhead with Ben Armour scoring a wonder winner – his third match-winner against the Sons with all the games finishing at 1-0.
Blue Toon boss Jim McInally welcomed back Hamish Ritchie after being cup-tied in midweek with Simon Ferry back in for his first game following his two game ban with Ben Armour promoted from the substitute’s bench.
Kyle Bailey, Derryn Kesson and Isaac Layne dropped to the bench with Jordon Brown also handed a substitute role after his recent hamstring problem.
Peterhead made a shaky start with Kieran Freeman misplacing his first two passes and Andy MacDonald penalised for a thumping challenge.
On 11 minutes Armour was chopped down to give Ryan Conroy a shooting chance from the free kick however Chris Smith was equal to his effort.
Four minutes later Scott Brown rescued his side with a sliding challenge on Adam Frizzell just as he was due to shoot after Simon Ferry had uncharacteristically given the ball away.
With half an hour gone Dumbarton carved open the visiting defence however Niah Payne stepped in to help at the expense of a corner.
Smith had to move sharply to keep his goal intact two minutes later after a miscued defensive header looked set to sneak into the home goal.
Two minutes from the break Peterhead were denied a penalty when Armour looked to be pulled back by Neil and their bad luck continued as just seconds later they were denied by a post.
Armour regained his composure and crossed to the back post where a combination of the hosts’ Omar Rabin and the well advanced Freeman turned the ball against the woodwork with Ritchie unable to reach the loose ball a yard from the line.
Half time 0-0
On 51 minutes Ross Forbes tried his luck with a 40 yard free kick and Joshua Rae gave it a careful watch as the Sons’ midfielder’s effort just cleared the bar.
Two minutes later the game was lit up by a superb goal from Armour. Hamish Ritchie picked out the striker with a long range cross field pass and Armour cut in from the left wing and sent an 18 yard shot flashing past Smith and into the far corner.
As Peterhead looked to secure a second goal Armour released Ritchie and the on-loan Inverurie Locos midfielder danced hi way towards goal however Smith saved his low effort.
With 18 minutes left MacDonald had a low drive held by Smith after more twinkle-toes work from Ritchie with substitute Boyd denied shortly afterwards after going on a surging run.
Dumbarton took over in the last ten minutes and pushed the Blue Toon back. One-time Peterhead defender Ryan McGeever was thrown upfront and his towering presence forced a couple of scrambles and half-chances however the visitors saw things out.
Peterhead – Rae, Freeman, Conroy, McDonald, Jason Brown, Ferry (Kesson 76), Ritchie (Jordon Brown), S Brown, Armour (Boyd 69), McCarthy (Strachan 90+1), Payne (McGrath 69)
Unused substitutes – Wilson (G/k), Lyle, Layne, Bailey
