Dumbarton vs Arbroath preview - Sons fight on without Finnie

Posted Wednesday, May 09, 2012 by PA

Dumbarton entertain Arbroath in the Scottish First Division play-off semi-finals without injured full-back Ryan Finnie.

Winger Mark Lamont is another confirmed absentee, with striker Ally Graham struggling to shake off a knock.

Craig Dargo is in line to make the starting XI for the first leg after hitting a hat-trick against Brechin on Saturday.

The Sons were last in the First Division 16 years ago and manager Alan Adamson is determined that they get back there via the play-offs.

He said: "At the start of the season if we had been offered a spot in the play-offs we would have said `yes that will do' but now we want promotion via them.

"Our games with Arbroath this season have produced 21 goals and I expect both sides to be on the front foot again in this game."

Arbroath striker Jordan Elfverson has been passed fit.

Elfverson can now be included in a fully-fit and suspension-free Gayfield squad ahead of a trip to the Strathclyde Homes Stadium.

Despite spending over 20 years in the game, Smokies player-manager Paul Sheerin has never experienced play-off football before, but he has been doing his research.

He explained: "I have been talking to a number of people that have been through them and the consistent message is that we should be looking at a 180-minute game and not a 90-minute one.

"Dumbarton and ourselves have attacked teams right throughout the season and it may well be that we need to sacrifice some of that approach until the second leg."