Basement boys Berwick pushed in-form Dumbarton all the way and had they proved to have been as lethal in front of goal as their hosts they would surely have gone back south with at least the point their performance merited.
Both sides started brightly and the first chance fell to the visitors. Darren Smith pounced on a defensive error and his low cross just eluded the unmarked Kevin Gordon with the goal gaping.
The Sons, however, made the most of their let off by going ahead with a goal which was slightly fortuitous.
Robert Dunn mis-hit his effort from the edge of the box but the ball spun to the unmarked Chris Boyle who dispatched it past Gary O'Connor from six yards.
Smith fired just wide from distance as the Borderers battled back and Pat Clarke should at least have forced Stephen Grindlay in a save when he found himself in space inside the box but the big striker shot tamely wide.
Dumbarton made them pay once again when John Dillon sent Andy Rodgers clear and knocked the ball over the advancing O'Connor before firing into the unguarded net.
The visitors' long goal drought under new boss Sandy Clark eventually ended after 55 minutes and it was no more than they deserved.
Smith's cross from the left picked out the head of Gordon and he beat Grindlay low at the left-hand post.
Any chance of a revival disappeared ten minutes later. Graeme Holmes, on loan from Dundee United, ended a fine solo run with a low shot from just outside the box which O'Connor let slip under his body and could only watch in horror as the ball rolled slowly over the line.
"We need to be more ruthless," said Berwick boss Clark after the game and there were few that saw this game who will argue with him.
For Dumbarton it was their first home success since the opening day while Berwick remain without a league victory since then.