By Graham Barnstaple
August 6 2011

Their task was made easier by scoring two goals in the opening 10 minutes and depending upon which side you are on they were well created or poorly defended!

Certainly Sons boss Alan Anderson felt his side didn’t start well, “We were very sluggish and gave ourselves an uphill struggle after losing two goals that could have been defended better.”

The first came from a Fraser Keast cross in five minutes, it picked out Phil Johnstone at the back post and he slid in to score from close range. The cross was played into the “corridor of uncertainty” and I am unsure whatAndersonfelt his defender’s could have done with it.

The second should have been defended better as a long throw was flicked on for Ryan Donnelly to have two attempts to score at the back post.

It wasn’t all Airdrie but the difference between the teams was the clinical finishing with Dumbarton wasting a number of opportunities with wild long range efforts.

Both sides then hit the woodwork with Chris Malone volleying off the bar from about 12 yards out for Airdrie and at the other end a Scott Agnew shot from 30 yards beat the keeper but bounced over off the bar.

Two goals up at half time Airdrie only needed to keep it tight for 15 minutes to know the game was won. They did that and added a third after 16 minutes with Keast providing another cross for Johnstone to score again.

Dumbarton hit the bar again late on when Alan Lithgow directed a shot from an Agnew free kick on to the woodwork.

Airdrie boss Jimmy Boyle was happy with the opening day success, “We started the game well and at a good tempo and we knew if we kept that up we would create chances.

“But 3-0 on the opening day of the season you’ve got to be happy with that.”