Doune Castle’s last minute derby draw
CALLANDER THISTLE ............. 2 DOUNE CASTLE ....................... 2
Two goals in the dying minutes, including a dramatic own goal equaliser with the game’s last touch, capped a storming Doune Castle fightback in a bruising derby against Callander Thistle.
The home side swept into an early lead with a stunning goal after three minutes when Craig smashed an unstoppable, first-time shot high past Adam Smulski from 22 yards.
There was little football of quality as one petulant challenge followed another and a fragmented first-half ended with Callander 1-0 ahead.
After 47 minutes, Alan Inglis angled a deft header that saw keeper Joe Ghattas make a terrific save, tipping the ball over the bar and Jonny Coubrough and Niall McClure both came close with first-time volleys before Callander extended their lead after 63 minutes.
A quick cross into the box left the unmarked Bowman the simplest of finishes as Callander were 2-0 ahead.
Inglis crashed a shot off the underside of the bar before Ghattas denied Doune with three further high-quality saves.
But with five minutes left, Inglis gave Doune a muchdeserved lifeline. Callum Macdougall threaded the pass through to him and he showed great composure to draw Ghattas before smashing the ball high into the far corner of the net from 14 yards.
With time now their enemy, Doune pressed forward looking for an equaliser and it came two minutes into added time.
Sean Wilbert cut inside a defender before drilling a low ball across the face of goal with several Castle players well placed. The ball deflected off a Callander defender and flew into the net at the near post past a stranded Ghattas to square the match at 2-2.
The referee allowed the restart and immediately blew for full-time, leaving Doune to enjoy their late equaliser, but rueing their ineffectual first-half performance.
Doune Castle: Smulski, Macfarlane, D Innes, Docherty, Coubrough, Macdougall, A Innes, McClure, Wilbert, Inglis, Purves Substitutes: Balmer, More, Haig