THE build-up to this match was all about the departure of one striker.
The aftermath centred on celebrations at the return of another.
Chris Kane is back in the building for Dumbarton – and for the third game in a row against Livingston, made the difference late in the day.
In the last minute of normal time, a game heading for a goalless stalemate was settled by his header from Scott Agnew’s cross.
It wasn’t quite ‘Bryan Who?’ after the departure of Mr Prunty to Airdrie. But it was a moment to relish.
And one which was long overdue for Sons. The last time Livi were beaten in G82, the game was played at Boghead Park and they were still Meadowbank Thistle. It was February 1995, a game won 4-0 by the home team.
Of more imminent importance was that it put Dumbarton’s first league points on the board. After four games, they have as many points as Hibernian do.
After a tough week, with defeats to Rangers and Hibs, a draw and a clean sheet wouldn’t have been the worst outcome for Ian Murray’s men.
However, offer them a moment like Kane delivered with a flick of his head? They’d bite your hand off for it. And they deserved it.
While the first half was a poor spectacle the second 45, with Kane introduced, was more watchable and could have gone either way.
But Sons gradually got on top, and were looking the more likely to score as the game entered its dying stages.
They did. And now the league table no longer has them at the bottom.
Livingston started the match with the same wind advantage with which Queen of the South so clinically punished Sons two weeks before. However, they couldn’t make it count.
Danny Mullen forced an early save from Danny Rogers while Gary Glen headed a good chance over. Shortly afterwards, at the other end, Colin Nish got his head to Scott Linton’s cross but his finish was just the wrong side of the post.
The pace didn’t last, with chances coming in fits and starts. Livi’s Jordan White headed over while Nish just couldn’t connect with Chris Turner’s lay-off. Livi broke upfield from the loose ball, with Rogers saving well from White.
By this point, David Van Zanten had left the action injured, giving loan signing Kieran MacDonald an unexpected early debut. The switch forced Linton to move to right back.
Both sides had the chance of taking the lead right on half time. Mitch Megginson shot over from Garry Fleming’s low ball while Glen drove a low shot across goal and wide for Livi.
Kane entered the action in place of the toothache-stricken Nish at half time to huge applause from the home end. Within three minutes, after Rogers had again saved from White, he nearly had a goal.
He latched on to the keeper’s kick but his effort was saved. Within minutes Kyle Jacobs headed against the bar for the visitors.
That scare seemed to have an impact on Sons, who were making far better use of the wind than they did against Queen of the South.
Agnew’s shot was blocked by a defender at close range while Megginson had a shot brilliantly pushed away by the keeper as it bent towards goal.
Megginson then put Kane through on goal only for the keeper to block at close range, with Callum Fordyce completing the clearance.
Kane tried again with 14 minutes left after Fleming flicked the ball on for him, but again the keeper denied him.
Three minutes were left when Livingston, after so much pressure from Sons, had the chance to win it, but Rob Ogleby’s shot from Jason Talbot’s low ball missed the target.
And the stage was left for Kane. In February he scored the late equaliser against Livi. The following month his last-minute winner saw them off at Almondvale.
Five months on from that day in West Lothian, he got to Agnew’s cross ahead of the keeper and did it again.
Dumbarton’s wait for their first points, after a difficult opening to the season, was over.
Dumbarton: Rogers; Van Zanten (MacDonald 33), Linton, Graham, Turner, Gilhaney, Agnew, Nish (Kane 46), Megginson, Taggart, Fleming (Campbell 76). Subs: Ewings; Kirkpatrick, Murray, McDougall.
Livingston: Jamieson; Talbot, Fordyce, Ky Jacobs, Ke Jacobs, O’Brien, Gallagher, McKenna (Robertson 74), White, Glen (Hippolyte 74), Mullen (Ogleby 46). Subs: Grant; Sives, Beaumont, Rutherford.
Referee: Barry Cook.
Crowd: 861.
The Dumbarton Terrace 