Doune’s cup hopes dashed
Doune Castle ..... 2 Glasgow Harp .... 3
Doune Castle lost their third cup tie in succession in a 3-2 defeat to Glasgow Harp in the Challenge Cup on Saturday.
Despite playing well for long periods, Doune’s defensive frailties resurfaced as self-inflicted errors gifted the tie to Harp.
The home side enjoyed the better of the early exchanges with Paul Statter and Sean Heaver both coming close.
But Harp were gifted the opener after 18 minutes. Murray Docherty and keeper Steven Fotheringham both pursued a long ball through the middle and their failure to communicate saw Docherty’s header go over his advancing keeper, leaving a simple tap-in to make it 1-0.
James Graham came close to equalising after 30 minutes, before Graham McClymont prevented the Castle falling further behind with a perfectly timed sliding challenge.
Jacob Macaloney headed just over before Harp snatched a second after 67 minutes to make it 2-0.
But to their credit, Doune battled back, making it 2-1 less than a minute later. Paul Statter hooked a first-time volley that hit the ground and bounced upwards and Alan More showed great anticipation to head into the net from four yards. Statter and Lukasz Duszynski tested the keeper with good efforts before Glasgow Harp were reduced to 10 men after 70 minutes.
Doune looked to take advantage of the extra man and Heaver drilled a low shot a foot wide before More’s effort from a Jonny Burns cross went narrowly past.
Castle deservedly equalised in 77 minutes when Heaver swept an inviting cross just beyond the keeper and Duszynski drifted clear of his marker to chest the ball home from five yards. Doune pressed forward for the winner but it was Harp who snatched it after 87 minutes when Docherty clipped the heels of an attacker to concede a penalty and Fotheringham went the wrong way from the spot kick.
Time was now Doune’s enemy. Four minutes into added time, Heaver whipped in a ferocious shot from 23 yards which the keeper palmed over for a vital save.
The final whistle left Doune frustrated as they had contributed much to the game, but even more to their own downfall. Doune Castle: Fotheringham, D Innes, Currie (Burns), McClymont, Docherty (McLachlan), Graham (McGowan), Macaloney (A Innes), Statter, Duszynski, More, Heaver. Sub not used: Scott