Goals in either half from Finlay Gray and Gregor Buchanan saw Dumbarton record their first victory of the new season against League One Peterhead.
Gray’s outstanding finish on his first senior start gave Stevie Farrell’s men the lead after 23 minutes, with Bloo Toon veteran Paul Dixon sent off for a foul on the goalscorer on the stroke of half-time.
And after controlling the second-half, Gregor Buchanan sealed the victory with a bullet header from Gregg Wylde’s free-kick - leaving boss Farrell pleased with his side’s work.
He said: “I thought we were decent, even when they had 11 men I thought we were still comfortable.
“We’re working on our defensive shape and have been for weeks, we want to be a wee bit more solid and harder to play against first and foremost this year.
“Last year we were too easy to play against.
“When we had the ball we produced some really good passages of play and it was a great first goal from young Finlay.”
Farrell made six changes to the side which had started against Aberdeen on Wednesday night, with teenage goalkeeper Harry Broun handed his senior debut.
Ally Love and Finlay Gray were handed full Sons debuts, and joined by Joe McKee, Callum Wilson and Declan Byrne in the starting 11.
The opening 20 minutes were largely drama free, with the hosts enjoying plenty of the ball but struggling to find a way beyond a resolute Sons backline.
On 23 minutes however, and with their first serious chance of the game, Dumbarton took the lead.
Joe McKee timed his pass perfectly to send Finlay Gray through on goal, and he showed incredible composure to clip the cutest of lobbed finishes that left Peterhead keeper Jack Newman rooted to the spot.
Less than a minute after celebrating his first goal for the side he had grown up supporting, Gray almost had a second.
Straight from kick-off he caught Paul Dixon in possession and charged in on goal but this time Newman saved well with his legs.
The goal looked to spark the game into life, with Peterhead’s Jordon Brown having a close range strike ruled out for offside after he thought he had levelled.
Brown then found no takers for his tempting delivery that flashed right across the face of Broun’s goal.
That would be as close as the hosts came however, as Sons took control of the game again.
Joe McKee had a free-kick from 25 yards touched over the bar by the full-stretch Newman, before the home side - who were able to name just one outfield substitute - were reduced to 10 men.
Goalscorer Gray stole possession from Paul Dixon before being fouled by the veteran as he raced in on goal.
Despite there being covering defenders, referee Barry Cook decided that he had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity and flashed a red card.
From the resulting free-kick, McKee fired over the bar.
The second-half started as the first had ended, with the Sons in control.
Toon midfielder Ryan Dow picked up a booking for a crude challenge on the lively Gray, who then saw his inviting cut-back hooked clear by Andy McDonald with a collection of white shirts waiting to pounce.
As the game moved beyond the hour mark, and with Dumbarton dominating possession, the Sons made a raft of changes - and soon after had a killer second goal.
Ryan Wallace was brought down on the wing by a tired Robbie McGale challenge.
From the resulting free-kick Gregg Wylde whipped in the perfect delivery for skipper Gregor Buchanan to bullet a header beyond keeper Newman and into the net.
Kalvin Orsi almost ended his goal drought shortly after with a header from another Wylde delivery, but was just off target as Sons recorded a long overdue first League Cup group stage win since 2019.
