A FEW millimetres of chalk was all that made the difference.
Was it over the line? Dominique Malonga’s 41st-minute penalty for Hibs, which in itself divided opinion?
After the striker, adjudged to have been fouled by Andy Graham, swung his boot, Danny Rogers saved. But the ball spun loose.
The Dumbarton keeper clutched it back, but was it too late to stop it crossing the line? Thousands would say yes. Other thousands would say no. Assistant referee Ralph Gordon, six yards away, was in the latter camp.
It was a massive decision, one which Hibs will point to as the moment that cost them two points. But there were other telling moments.
Rogers, not back 48 hours from his international under-21 debut with the Republic of Ireland in Norway, was almost infallible, producing some inspired saves.
Although the hosts had most of the chances, and a goal disallowed, Sons weren’t totally devoid of attacking action, with Colin Nish at the centre of their efforts at the home of his boyhood heroes.
The goals have yet to flow. However, at the start of a tough run of fixtures, this was a welcome result.
It was actually Sons who threatened first when David Van Zanten set up Jordan Kirkpatrick for an angled shot which was turned wide.
But after David Gray and Liam Fontaine missed the target for Hibs, Rogers’ A game was needed.
His save from Jason Cummings was routine, but his stop from Dylan McGeouch’s 25-yard shot, which saw him turn the ball over the bar, was something special.
On 28 minutes Nish got on the end of a long Scott Linton throw, but with the keeper scrambling, his backward header went narrowly wide.
Then, four minutes from half time, came the moment that got everybody talking through the rest of the afternoon. The award was 50/50, with Graham adjudged to have fouled Malonga as he shaped up to shoot. When he did go for goal, Rogers saved and the judges spoke.
Rogers was again on form before half time, denying Cummings after he ran on to a long ball.
The second half saw Hibs continue to dominate, but through long spells of frustration. Malonga was kept out by Rogers again while Cummings narrowly missed with a low shot from the edge of the area.
In between, Nish had a Bryan Prunty-style overhead effort from Garry Fleming’s cross, but was off target.
And after Rogers denied Liam Craig, there was more to come from Sons. Mark Gilhaney set up Nish, with the striker’s low shot rolling wide, before the keeper got to a long ball just ahead of Archie Campbell.
But there was another escape. Craig looked to have set up Paul Heffernan to tap home the opener from six yards, but the flag was up for offside.
And as the final minutes slipped by, Hibs became more frantic. Headers by Jordon Forster, and then Paul Hanlon, both from corners, were straight at Rogers.
But the last touch of the ball was made by the Sons keeper, and it was in fitting spectacular style. It was to turn Matthew Kennedy’s shot over.
With no time for a corner, that was it. For the second game against Edinburgh opposition in a row, the other team were frustrated by Sons.
What price a third, across the city against Hearts next week?
And what price another big break?
Hibernian: Oxley; Gray, Hanlon, Fontaine (Kennedy 58), Forster, Robertson, Craig (Allan 76), Stevenson, McGeouch, Malonga (Heffernan 68), Cummings. Subs: Perntreou; Stanton, Handling, Booth. Booked: Malonga, Cummings, Robertson.
Dumbarton: Rogers; Van Zanten, Linton, Graham, Gilhaney, Agnew (McLaughlin 90), Nish, Megginson (MacDonald 71), Kirkpatrick, Taggart, Fleming (Campbell 76). Subs: Ewings; Mair, Murray, McDougall. Booked: Agnew, Graham, Gilhaney, Linton.
Referee: Barry Cook.
Crowd: 7,923.
The Dumbarton Terrace 
Still hung up on the penalty Andy? Absolutely correct about it being a massive decision but for once the assistant referee was 100% correct.
Not hung up at all Tommy – quite happy that it wasn’t given!
It just shows what happens when incidents are viewed from different angles. The consensus in the press lounge at half time (local and national media) was that it looked as if the ball had crossed the line. Everyone in the away end who I’ve heard from didn’t think it had.
Tried to keep report balanced in terms of whether it was a goal or not. But justice done with no goal as penalty decision was 50/50 at best. No goal given, point taken, on to face Hearts.