Referee Scott Lambie took centre stage, as EIGHT MAN Dumbarton fell to a last gasp defeat against Airdrieonians.
Ross MacLean, Andy Geggan and Gregor Buchanan all saw red - with Paul Paton’s 94th minute strike looking to have secured a point for the visitors.
However Salim Koudier-Aissa nodded a cruel winner two minutes later.
And having drawn level deep into injury time, Sons boss Stevie Farrell was also sent off for questioning the amount of added time played.
He said: “I’m not going to speak about the referee’s decisions as I don’t want to get myself into bother.
“But the reality is we managed a fantastic comeback with eight men to make it two each. That was after the 94th minute. My issue is where the rest of the injury time comes from.
“It looked as if we were just going to keep playing until they scored. That’s obviously not the case. But that’s how it felt.
“At the end of the day though we are naive. We should’ve put the game out of sight in the first-half.”
Farrell rang the changes from the side which had lost to Queen’s Park a week previous, with Edin Lynch, skipper Stuart Carswell and Kalvin Orsi dropping out.
The fit-again Paul Paton, Callum Wilson and Ryan Schiavone took their place as the Sons switched to a Diamond formation.
However it was the Diamonds who dominated the opening exchanges, taking the lead after just eight minutes.
Callum Smith was fouled by Gregor Buchanan in the area, with the big defender booked for his protests.
Rhys McCabe stepped up and smashed the perfect penalty high beyond Sam Ramsbottom.
Dumbarton’s response was impressive however, and they almost drew level when Schiavone took advantage of a Josh Kerr mistake and lobbed Max Currie - but the ball bounced wide of the target.
Carlo Pignatiello then picked out Joe McKee with a wonderful delivery, but the midfielder saw his close range effort deflected over - with referee Lambie booking Paul Paton for his complaints after only awarding a goal kick.
Callum Wilson then had an effort scrambled off the line, before the visitors finally drew level.
McKee’s delivery picked out the unmarked Ross MacLean at the far post, with the winger driving underneath Currie and into the net.
Joe McKee then had another great chance to hit the net, but his header from Pignatiello’s cross bounced into the plastic pitch and narrowly over Currie’s crossbar.
As the game neared half-time Andy Geggan became the latest player to find his way into referee Lambie’s notebook for contesting a decision.
Lambie continued to distance himself from an invite to Sons’ Christmas night out as he waved away strong appeals for a penalty from Ross MacLean after his cross hit Craig Watson’s arm in the area.
And Sons’ fury was compounded when the hosts were awarded another penalty after Pignatiello tripped Dylan Easton.
MacLean was shown a straight red card by referee Lambie in the melee that followed.
The furious Sons players’ anger was exacerbated by the official refusing to explain his decision to those on the park.
McCabe again stepped up, but this time saw his penalty saved by Sam Ramsbottom.
Ramsbottom was then twice more in action to deny Kerr McInroy and Dylan Easton, before the Sons lost Ryan McGeever to a knee injury with just over 20 minutes remaining.
A difficult day got worse for the visitors as Gregor Buchanan was handed a second booking by Lambie for a tug on substitute Jordan Allan.
And the Diamonds looked to have snatched all three points when Dylan Easton smashed home a superb volley from the edge of the box.
Andy Geggan became the third Son to see red as he was handed a second booking for barging Max Currie as he collected a high ball, before Dumbarton looked to have rescued the most unlikely of points.
Carlo Pignatiello advanced down the right and found Paul Paton with a cross, and the veteran rolled the ball into the empty net.
However there was one more twist to come, as Airdrie’s Salim Koudier-Aissa nodded in a corner two minutes later - sparking jubilation in the home end, and leaving Dumbarton wondering what they had done to upset the football gods so badly.
