DUMBARTON 0 UNITED 2

What a difference a week makes. From the insipid Inverness display, after losing twice away to the Sons last season, the Tangerines emphatically put their bogey side to the sword to give interim boss Laurie Ellis a well deserved victory.

Scoring in the second minute undoubtedly settled the nerves and they played with a verve and fluency so absent in the previous two outings and, although they only scored one more, this was a very comfortable win.

And with St Mirren held at home by Morton, the gap on the leaders is reduced to three points ahead of next week’s clash at Tannadice.

By Peter Rundo

Laurie Ellis made five changes from the team that lost 2-0 at home to Inverness last time out.

Fraser Fyvie and Lewis Toshney were both ruled out through injury, while William Edjenguele, Paul McMullen and James Keatings all dropped to the bench.

The replacements – Stewart Murdoch, Tam Scobbie, Billy King, Scott Fraser and Matty Smith – all stepped up to the starting line up after being on the bench last week.

There was also a newcomer of the bench with 17-year-old striker Declan Glass getting his first call up in a league game.  

Wearing the all-black strip for the first time, United kicked off and were ahead inside 74 seconds!

Good work by Matty Smith down the right saw him deliver into the middle which Billy King collected before slipping the ball back to Sam Stanton who sent a superb 20-yard curler into the top left postage stamp corner.

The goal clearly bred confidence as United dictated play in the opening ten minutes.

There was concern when Tam Scobbie had to go off but fortunately it was only for treatment to a facial knock.

On 15 minutes a Fraser free-kick caused confusion in the Sons’ box leading to them conceding a corner.

And from it Stanton struck again from a goal which had all the hallmarks of one from the training ground!

Fraser played the ball low into the box, Stanton peeled off his marker and, although keeper Scott Gallacher got his hands to his angled effort from 12 yards, he couldn’t prevent it crossing the line.

The hosts threatened for the first time after 20 minutes when they claimed hand ball against Mark Durnan as he stopped a cross. 

And from the resultant corner Craig Barr, at the far post, couldn’t direct his side-footed effort on target.  

Just before the half-hour mark, Fraser who was the instigator of so many of United moves fed King out wide and he cut inside but although he connected well from a good position his shot, though well, struck flew well over. 

Harry Lewis was called into action for the first time after 32 minutes, holding a free-kick Dimitrios Froxylias low down at his right-hand post. 

Eight minutes from the interval, United almost scored again from a corner. King’s delivery was met by Murdoch whose header rebounded to him and he stabbed the ball narrowly past.

Four minutes later, after a neat interchange of passes with Fraser, Scott McDonald drove a 20-yarder just wide of the far post. 

The game’s first booking came after 54 minutes when Barr brought down Fraser.

A minute later Durnan headed a Fraser corner just past for the first chance of the second-half.

On the hour mark only a finger-tip save by Gallacher prevented Scott McDonald adding a third with an angled drive after he had been played in by Fraser.

Dumbarton were reduced to ten men in the 63rd minute when Barr picked up a second booking for simulation.

The outstanding Fraser was substituted to a standing ovation from the sizeable United support with James Keatings.  

With eight minutes left, Matty Smith went off, again to rapturous applause from the Arabs in the crowd and United ran down the clock in continuing commanding fashion.

Man of the Match: There wasn’t a failure in the ranks, but two really excelled. Sam Stanton for his two early goals and Scott Fraser with a terrific performance playing off front man Scott McDonald. And it was so hard to decide between them, they share the honour.

Dumbarton: S Gallacher, McLaughlin, Dowie, Wilson (Roy 80), Stewart (C Gallacher 88), Walsh (Morrison 46), Wardrop, Hutton, Hill, Froxylias, Barr (C.)

Subs not used: Ewings, Carswell,  Johnston, Prior.  

United: Lewis, Murdoch, Durnan, Scobbie, Robson, M Smith (McMullan 82), Flood (C), Stanton, King (King 91), Fraser (Keatings 72), McDonald.

Subs not used: Deniz, N’KoyI, Edjenguele, Allardice.

Referee: Craig Charleston.