A LATE winner from Pat Walker earned Dumbarton a dramatic win over ten-man Airdrie.

The Diamonds were twice in front at New Broomfield on Saturday but couldn't make it stick with the Sons cashing in.

Airdrie are now in sixth place in the table – four points adrift of the promotion play-off spots and the same number clear of the relegation zone.

Boss Jimmy Boyle handed a start to trialist defender Cameron MacDonald with David Lilley (dead leg) and Kevin Green (broken foot) both missing.

The home side opened the scoring in the 15th minute when top goalscorer Ryan Donnelly smashed home his 25th of the season from a low Willie McLaren cross.

But Dumbarton levelled when keeper Connor Fairley failed to collect a Scott Agnew corner and defender Alan Lithgow took advantage by heading the ball into the net.

The Diamonds responded immediately when John Boyle pushed into the area, rounded goalie Stephen Grindlay and slotted home.

However, the task of clinching all three points was made more difficult once MacDonald was sent-off by referee Mat Northcroft for violent conduct.

Boyle's men had justified claims for a penalty turned down in the 58th minute with a Jamie Bain cross appearing to be controlled by Ryan Finnie's hand in the box.

And the Sons added insult to injury by equalising for a second time in the 66th minute when Sean Lynch nodded an Agnew corner into the roof of his own net following another Fairley error.

With two minutes left, Dumbarton netted a controversial winner when Agnew's free-kick into the area was fired home by substitute Walker despite Airdrie appeals of handball.

In the dying seconds, Airdrie were denied a point when Grindlay pulled off an amazing save from midfielder Graeme Owens' shot.

Colin Paterson at New Broomfield.

Photographs © Robert Dalzell. Click to view full size.