Aitken to view video of Dumbarton duo’s altercation before deciding on course of action

Dumbarton manager stephen Aitken is letting the dust settle after Saturday’s 5-1 defeat at Dunfermline was marred by an angry altercation between two of his players.

The Pars had just gone two goals ahead on 27 minutes when Mark Docherty and Stuart Carswell clashed. The latter was substituted before the game kicked off again with blood streaming from his nose.

The incident overshadowed Nicky Clark’s four-goal haul, but Aitken is not rushing to determine anyone’s guilt.

Various versions of what happened, including one put forward by Dunfermline players to their manager Allan Johnston that Docherty had head-butted his team-mate, have been aired but Aitken will take his time before deciding what action to take.

“I will let the dust settle before deciding what to do,” Aitken said. “I did not see the incident and I want to see what footage there is before deciding anything further.

“If things have happened in the manner that has been suggested then I will deal with it but rushing in is not right.”

The Pars hit the front after seven minutes when Nicky Clark headed in and Paul Mcmullan cut in from the left and cracked in the second.

After the break Clark headed in twice before making it 5-0 with a shot. Daniel Harvie slid in a late consolation.

Johnston said: “It was a great team performance and Nicky showed what a good goalscorer he is.”

Falkirk moved to second place with a 2-0 win over Queen of the Southat Palmerston Park. Former Doonhamer Lewis Kidd put the Bairns in front right on half-time with a free-kick and Craig Sibbald scored from a penalty 11 minutes from time after Nathan Austin had been fouled.

0 Stephen Aitken: No rush.