Instead, the Warriors' dismal home record continued. A win over Shire on January 2 was the last time they managed a victory at Ochilview and it has to be said that the point they did achieve on this occasion was a tad fortunate.

Andy Geggan's 11th minute strike looked to have handed the Sons a second win over the Warriors in five days, but Ian Harty levelled 10 minutes from time to scramble a scarcely deserved share of the spoils.

"We salvaged something when we didn't think we were going to get anything," said manager John Coughlin.

"It's one less game played and the teams round about us haven't gained anything on us so it's as we were.

"We now have to go to Montrose and Stranraer in the next two weeks and win those games – it's as simple as that."

Given that the above two look certain to be in the play-offs, and that 'Muir have champions East Fife to look forward to the following week at home, Coughlin's positive outlook is to be admired.

However, the almost impossible dream that he created, by taking his side from second bottom in October to within touching distance of a top four position, remains just that.

Had his personnel the same optimism, all still might not be lost. But there was little shown in this game to suggest a Lazarus-type revival was likely.

Coughlin made six changes from the team that went down by the only goal to the Sons four days previously and, although some were enforced, a shuffle of the pack was obviously a necessity.

Steve Ferguson returned but, although the skipper's injury absence has been a severe loss to the team, the player/coach's appearance smacked a little of desperation as he is clearly not 100 per cent fit.

The visitors were less than breathtaking themselves though, and when they opened the scoring it came out of the blue.

Former Albion Rovers' top-scorer Kenny Wright played as a trialist and
when he crossed from the right Geggan was totally unmarked and his 10-yard header gave Ali Brown no chance.

The home side suffered another blow when Scott McCulloch limped off in 20 minutes, yet his replacement, John Dillon, looked to have levelled seven minutes later – until his dipping 25 yard free-kick was superbly tipped over by David Crawford.

Gordon Lennon was a mainstay for the Warriors when he spent around three months on loan at Ochilview before joining his old Albion Rovers manager in January.

And the centre half was unlucky not to increase the deficit in 34 minutes when his header hit the bar on the way over.

The second period was, perhaps, even more dire than the first, and when the Warriors equalised it was as much of a surprise as the Sons' opener.
Jose Quitongo replaced Ross Hamilton after 70 minutes and when he crossed 10 minutes later, Harty's close range header went in off the underside of the bar.

Paul Tyrrell sent Harty through three minutes from time but, although the striker finished clinically, he was clearly offside.

Dillon then hit the side-netting from a Harty cut-back near the end as the home side took control for the first time.

However, a winner would have been cruel on the visitors and a point apiece in the end was probably just about right.

Stenhousemuir: Brown 7, McEwan 5, McCulloch 3 (Dillon 20, 3), Mailey 5, Smith 6, Tyrrell 6, Hamilton 4 (Quitongo 70, 4), Ferguson 6, Harty 6, McManus 3 (Gibson 57, 3), Lyle 5
Not used: Lindsay, Hillcoat
Booked: Lyle 67, McEwan 84

Referee: Colin Brown

STENHOUSEMUIR 1
Harty 80

DUMBARTON 1
Geggan 11
(HT 0-1)
Attendance: 449