DUMBARTON assistant manager Frank McKeown admits he couldn’t be happier with how his side's pre-season has gone as the competitive action begins this weekend.

Sons were winners over Caledonian Braves and Glenafton in pre-season whilst narrowly losing to Falkirk before lifting the Macron Cup in their final pre-season outing against Hebburn Town on Saturday.

Dumbarton hit the Northern Premier League side for six on Saturday with Michael Ruth finding the net twice alongside efforts from Trialist Michael Mullen, Finlay Gray, Carlo Pignatiello and David Wilson.

Franko has managed the side over the last three outings as boss Stevie Farrell enjoyed a family holiday and is delighted with how both last seasons faces and the new summer recruits have quickly found their feet.

Speaking post match, he said: “I’m not going to stand here and say I’m really happy with the result because I didn’t really care about it, I just wanted a good performance, so I can’t stand here and say any different but I’m happy with the performance.

“I was happy against Falkirk when we got beat, happy against Caledonian Braves when we won, happy against Glenafton and it’s the same against Hebburn.

“I was just happy with the way we played. Regardless if we went and got beat, they are doing the things we are asking them to do and all buying into it.

“The people from last year have done exactly what we have asked them to do and the boys who have came in have fitted into the system.

“We’ve tweaked it a little bit and asked them to do a couple of different things and they’ve had a great pre-season.”

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The Premier Sports Cup begins this weekend with Dumbarton hosting Lowland League champions East Kilbride in their opening Group A fixture.

Games against Queen of the South, Airdrieonians and Aberdeen then follow and McKeown hopes his side can compete well in a challenging group.

He added: “We’ll be in at training on Tuesday and Thursday and get ready for Saturday.

“It’s a tough group but if we can go and build on these performances then I think we’ll do okay.”