However, by the end of the year, results had taken them back into the challenging pack, and by the beginning of March, had broken clear to take the lead.
In the Scottish Cup Stirling Albion would advance in Dumbarton's place in the first round, after a drawn match.
Locally, in the Stirlingshire Cup, the story was no better, with two qualifying defeats to Falkirk and Stirling Albion.
After sectional wins over Falkirk (4-0) and Alloa Athletic (1-0) and a draw against Clydebank (1-1), Dumbarton defeated Stenhousemuir 2-0 in the final.
Dumbarton competed in the Scottish Reserve League (West), and with 9 wins and 4 draws from 28 games, finished 12th of 15.