Gutted Doune left raging as referee adds insult to injury
Fury as whistler disallows strike at the death
Dumbarton FP .......................... 3 Doune Castle ............................ 2
Sports reporter Doune missed out on a share of the points after an injury-time decision by the referee denied them an equaliser.
Goals either side of the interval for Dumbarton, plus a counter with 12 minutes left looked to have given them all three Caledonian League points.
But Niall McClure’s penalty on 90 minutes gave the home side a lifeline and with the clock showing 94 minutes, it looked like they had grabbed it.
Alan Inglis’ header looked well over the line as Dumbarton keeper McGillivray pulled the ball back and flicked it out.
An enraged Doune were left frustrated as the referee failed to award the goal and were even more gutted when he blew the whistle for full-time.
Castle started well, taking the lead in under 90 seconds. Inglis burst into the penalty area and was brought down. McClure sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-0.
Chances then came at both ends. Inglis and Graham McClymont went close, while Dumbarton might have equalised when an Accies player skewed his shot. They came even closer shortly after, rattling the crossbar before Kenny Feaks thumped clear.
Dumbarton were gifted their best chance to equalise after 30 minutes when a shot from an Accies forward hit Alan More’s arm and the referee awarded a penalty. But justice was done when Dumbarton hit the post with the spot kick.
They had better luck in first-half stoppage time when David Innes conceded another penalty and this time keeper Colin Dormer was left helpless.
Dumbarton edged into a 2-1 lead after 49 minutes. Doune twice failed to clear down their left flank and Accies took full advantage to score.
Accies almost made it 3-1 when, three times in quick succession, they hit the bar and the post as they looked to press their dominance of possession.
Doune hit back with attempts from Inglis and More, but Dumbarton held out and with 78 minutes played, Castle needlessly rushed to take a throw-in on the right, deep into Accies territory.
A slack pass saw the home side counter at speed and a third goal ensued.
With the clock showing 90 minutes, Doune made it 3-2. Colin Dougherty broke into the area and was pulled down and McClure slammed the ball home to set up the exciting finish.