Dumbarton 5, Cowdenbeath 1.

SPFL Championship Attendance-687.

A DREADFUL result for Cowdenbeath in their bid to stay in the Championship and it has left them with a huge mountain to climb.

For more than an hour, at The Rock on Saturday, they more than held their own against the Sons but a desperate last quarter of the game saw them end up a poor second.

Their defensive work in the closing stages was very poor and it all added up to their second worst defeat of the season.

Goalkeeper Thomas Flynn saw his defence just completely collapse late in the game, although he could have done more at the third and the goals conceded has not helped the Blues’ bid to avoid the play-offs.

The back three of Darren Brownlie, John Armstrong and Nat Wedderburn kept a grip of the Dumbarton attack for three-quarters of the game but as the midfield fell out of the picture late in the game they found themselves exposed.

The home side got stronger and stronger the longer time went on and ended up crushing winners.

Cowdenbeath started brightly and Greg Stewart had a right foot shot from only 10 yards which drifted wide, then in five minutes Rory McKeown tried his luck with a left foot shot which came back of the Sons’ left hand post.

Dumbarton responded with a Mark Gilhaney shot which was blocked and then a Colin Nish header forced a good save from Flynn.

But in 21 minutes Dumbarton took the lead when Nish was the provider and Mitch MEGGINSON’s fierce right foot shot flew high into the net.

This perked up the home side and on loan player from St Johnstone, Chris Kane, fired over before Jordan Kirkpatrick tried his luck from the edge of the box and it went inches wide.

The single goal separated the sides at the break but the second-half had an explosive start with two goals in the first 15 minutes.

Sons went two up when Mike MILLER dragged the ball into the middle of the box and, without a challenge from the visiting defence, his low shot beat Flynn in 55 minutes.

Cowden saw a Robertson shot blocked but they pulled a goal back in 63 minutes. Andy Graham gave away a corner and when the Dumbarton defence could not clear, the ball was met by ARMSTRONG and his left foot shot beat Stephen Grindley.

Soon after, as Cowden went for the leveller, Stewart got in a decent shot and it flew just over, but with 18 minutes left Sons got the key third goal.

A free-kick provided the opportunity for KIRKPATRICK and his low right foot shot found the corner of the net with Flynn left wondering if he could have done more.

This gave Dumbarton extra confidence and Megginson twice went close as the last quarter developed, and Cowden made a double substitution with Sammy Stewart and Kyle Miller coming on for Robertson and Stevenson but it was Dumbarton who got the fourth goal.

With ten minutes left sub Gary FLEMING came into the picture with a low shot which crept into the net and then in time added on the final nail was put in the Cowdenbeath coffin with a shot from KANE giving Flynn no chance.

Dumbarton: Grindley (6); McGinn (7), Kirkpatrick (7); Graham (8), Miller (7), Turner (7); Gilhaney (6), Agnew (Murray 68 (3)), Nish (Fleming 81 (3)), Kane, Megginson (McDougall 81 (2)). Subs not used, Smith, Prunty, Thomson and Ewings.

Cowdenbeath: Thomas Flynn (6); Dean Brett (6), Rory McKeown (7); Darren Brownlie (6), John Armstrong (6), Nat Wedderburn (6); James Fowler (6), Jon Robertson (6) (Sammy Stewart 80 (2), Greg Stewart (7), Jamie Stevenson (6) (Kyle Miller 80 (2)), Lewis Milne (6). Subs not used, Kenny Adamson, Thomas O’Brien, David Gold, Chris Kane and Seb Usai.

Referee-Crawford Allan (7).