Late winner delight for Gibson’s men

ANNAN Athletic stretched their unbeaten run in League Two to eight matches but this time tasted victory.

The Black and Golds looked destined to draw their sixth league match on the bounce but that all changed when forward Joel Mumbongo netted late on against strugglers Dumbarton.

It was an uneventful start at Galabank but the first chance fell to the visitors when a ball over the top found Scott Tomlinson – who beat the offside trap – but he couldn’t lift his shot over Charlie Albinson. The rebound fell to Tomlinson but he fired over the bar.

Annan began to motor with a lovely move on 26 minutes. Max Kilsby delivered in the from the left and found Tam Muir, but his header was expertly tipped over by Brett Long.

And it wouldn’t be long until the Annan skipper got another chance to net. Ryan Muir whipped a delicious cross into the area to his namesake and he couldn’t find the target from 12 yards.

Kristian Webster bombed down the park and left the Annan defence in the dust. But again the hosts had Albinson to thank after he advanced forward, made himself big and made a fine save.

Dumbarton continued to push for the opener and Ali Omar thought he had scored from eight yards, but Kilsby made a heroic block on the line.

And the Sons defender continued to cause problems inside the Annan box in the early stages of the second period.

Ryan Blair hit an inch-perfect corner which was met by the towering Omar but Albinson made another fine save.

The rain was pounding down at Galabank and it looked likely the contest would end a damp squib, goalless stalemate. But that all changed when player boss Wullie Gibson – who was carrying a knock and was named on the bench – pulled on the shirt, exited the touchline and joined the fray.

His experience showed as he won the ball in his own half and played the ball to Mumbongo on the left byline.

The Swede passed back to Kilsby, who then whipped in a deep ball all the way to the right-hand side of the box to Darryl Carrick.

The right-back returned the ball into the centre of the box and Mumbongo popped up with a fine low finish.

And the Galabankies nearly doubled their lead at the death when Gibson’s free-kick took a deflection off the defender but hit the side netting.

But the solitary goal was enough for Annan to continue their impressive run as they closed the gap to the promotion play-offs.