Classy Castle give students a lesson
Dominant Doune cruise to the three points against struggling Strathclyde
Doune Castle ..... 4 Strathclyde Uni..1
Doune Castle stormed to a comprehensive win with an impressive display to take all three Caledonian Premier League points.
The home side dominated from the off and created a number of chances but found Strathclyde keeper McLelland in inspired form.
He saved well from Alan Inglis, Craig Sharp, Lukasz Duszynski and Andy Innes before the breakthrough came after 43 minutes.
Kenny Feaks sent Sharp clear with a precise 40-yard pass and he calmly strode forward to slip the ball wide of McLelland and into the left hand corner of the net.
Seconds later, Chris Dougherty thought he had extended the Castle lead with a powerful downward header but the referee disallowed the goal for an infringement.
Doune were deserving of a greater half-time lead but were content to be 1-0 ahead at the break — and they only took two minutes to extend their advantage when Niall McClure squared for Duszynski to fire home.
On 53 minutes, it was 3-0 when Innes’ corner from the left was headed past McLelland by Inglis.
Having made a number of saves to keep his side in the match at the break, McLelland then added a penalty stop to his afternoon’s work. McClure had struck the spot-kick well but the University keeper dived full length to make a brilliant save.
Sharp capped a fine display with his own second goal after 71 minutes. More sent him clear and as McLelland advanced, he skilfully dinked the ball over him from 10 yards to make it 4-0 with a lovely finish.
The University scored a late consolation goal. On 88 minutes, a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area took a cruel deflection off the Castle defensive wall and looped high over Kieron McLeod to finish the scoring at 4-1. DOUNE CASTLE: McLeod, Balmer, More, Feaks, Dougherty, Burns (Docherty), A Innes, McClure, Sharp
(Stewart), Inglis (Coubrough) Duszynski. Subs not used: Gallagher, Scott