Dumbarton 0 - 0 Brechin City

Dumbarton and Brechin earned a point apiece as good defensive play from both sides kept the score sheet blank.

Updated: October 31, 2009, 6:21 PM UK

The home side started brightly with strikers Denis McLaughlin and Alan Cook both in action but they had little chance against veteran Brechin goalkeeper Craig Nelson.

The Sons star defender Chris Smith saw a fierce header take a wicked deflection off Steven Canning - but Willie Dyer cleared the ball off the goal line.

At the other end Jan Vojacek pulled off a great save to keep Neil Janczyk's free kick out of the net.

Before the break McLaughlin twice tested Nelson from long range but he could not find a way past the goalkeeper.

Dumbarton substitute Derek Carcary replaced Cook after the break and the hosts had a soft penalty claim turned down by referee Robertson after Paul McLean appeared to handle the ball.

Both sides brought on fresh faces in a bid to break the deadlock but the defences stood firm although City came close with a couple of good efforts from Mark Cowan and Charlie King.

Dumbarton's best effort fell to Carcary whose looping header crashed off the post.