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We were denied the victory our second half fightback deserved by what can only be described as a mistake by referee Alan Muir.

The official awarded an 83rd minute spot-kick to the Sons when Fraser Fyvie knocked the ball away from Carlo Pigniatiello, just before Dumbarton player fell to the turf.

Video evidence clearly shows Fyvie made no contact with his opponent, so he was rightly furious the penalty was awarded, although the referee could have done with some help from assistant Daniel McFarlane, who was better positioned to see what had actually happened.

Dumbarton skipper Stuart Carswell converted the penalty to secure a point for them, but it was clear from the way our lads continued to debate the decision with the officials well after the final whistle had sounded that they felt extremely hard done by.

Carswell had also scored when Dumbarton were awarded the softest of penalties in the 38th minute to ensure we went in at the interval a goal behind.

We battled back though and a Rory McAllister penalty and fine finish by Connor Scully looked to have given us the three points our total domination of the second period would have merited.

It was painful to see that taken away in the manner that it was, but we at least maintained our long unbeaten run in cinch League One, which stretches back to October.

Conditions were very tricky at the moreroom.com Stadium, with a bumpy, heavily sanded pitch, and a howling and extremely chilly gale making things difficult for both sets of players.

We had the wind at our backs in the first half, but it was more of a hindrance than a help, although we had a couple of decent early chances.

McAllister laid the ball off for Mitch Megginson to poke a shot wide after just two minutes.

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That was followed by Fyvie sending Scully clear on the left to lash a shot across the face of the Dumbarton goal.

Home defender Paddy Boyle’s poor clearance then went to Blair Yule, but his effort from 18-yards was held by keeper Sam Ramsbottom.

Fyvie also saw a powerful effort beaten clear by Ramsbottom as we did our best to deal with the challenging pitch and weather conditions.

Harry Milne was next up, when he sent a header from a well flighted Iain Vigurs free-kick over the bar from eight yards.

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Milne was the hero at the other end in the 22nd minute, when he made a vital headed clearance after Ross MacLean had crossed the ball in from the right.

Dumbarton were far better after that and forced Stuart McKenzie to make what proved to be the best save of the match in the 24th minute.

The big keeper dived full length to his left to push MacLean’s net-bound 16-yard shot behind for a corner.

MacLean had another chance in the 27th minute, but blasted his close range volley over the crossbar.

Dumbarton missed a glorious opportunity to open the scoring in the 30th minute.

MacLean managed to nod the ball across the face of our goal to the unmarked Connor Duthie, but he could only head wide from inside the six yard box.

The first of Dumbarton’s two debatable spot-kicks came in the 38th minute.

MacLean fell as he was attempting to squeeze the ball past Morgyn Neill, deep inside our area, out on the Dumbarton left.

Referee Muir immediately pointed to the spot and waved away any protests before CARSWELL hammered his effort beyond McKenzie.

Maclean also had a 20-yard shot saved by McKenzie as the Sons attempted to increase their lead before the interval.

Playing against the wind in the second period clearly suited us, because we totally dominated after the turnaround.

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We began with Vigurs curling a 20-yard free-kick around the Dumbarton defensive wall for Ramsbottom to make a decent diving save.

We equalised from the spot in the 51st, thanks to the intervention of far side referee’s assistant George King.

McAllister was convinced Boyle had handled the ball as he burrowed his way into the Dumbarton box, but referee Muir waved play on until King signalled for the offence from his stance on the far touchline.

McALLISTER gave Ramsbottom no chance as he claimed his 17th goal of the season from the spot.

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We went ahead in the 54th minute from a great move that began with Milne finding Yule out on the right with a tremendous cross-field pass.

Ramsbottom tried to punch the midfielder’s cross clear, but the ball fell to SCULLY and he calmly steered an eight yard shot into the net.

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We were unlucky not to make it 3-1 in the 64th minute, when Mark Reynolds saw his header cleared off the line after Vigurs had sent a corner over from the right.

The chances came thick and fast for us after that.

Megginson was denied by a last gasp defensive challenge in the 68th minute, just before McAllister met a Yule cross and sent a six yard header inches over the crossbar.

The best opportunity fell to Scully, in the 71st minute.

McAllister and Megginson combined well to get the ball to the midfielder, but Scully sliced his shot from the edge of the six yard box wide of the Dumbarton goal.

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We still looked as if we would win though until referee Muir pointed to the spot again, after Fyvie had cleared the ball away from Pignatiello.

CARSWELL was happy to accept the opportunity to ensure things finished all square, but it was a frustrating end to the afternoon for our lads.

DUMBARTON: Ramsbottom, Pignantiello, Boyle, Bronsky, Buchanan, Duthie, Carswell, Paton, Wylde (Wilson 78),  Oyinsan (Orsi 67),  Maclean.

Subs: O’Neill, McKee, Stokes, Lynch, Hutchison.

COVE RANGERS: McKenzie, Neill, Milne, Yule, Scully, Ross, Reynolds, Vigurs, Fyvie, McAllister, Megginson.

Subs: Masson, McIntosh, Anderson, Adeyemo, Leitch, Gourlay.

Referee: Alan Muir.

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