Errors costly for Doune
Determined Dal Riata collect points
DOUNE CASTLE .................................... 1 DAL RIATA ............................................. 2
A combination of basic errors and a failure to convert more of the opportunities they created saw Doune squander valuable Caledonia League points.
There was little fluency in the early play with the away side looking more comfortable on the ball without ever threatening and the 0-0 half-time scoreline was a fair reflection of a disjointed opening 45 minutes.
Doune made the worst possible starts to the second half, conceding the opening after 48 minutes.
The defence failed to clear what had looked like a hopeful cross into the box and it fell to a Dal Riata player who accepted the gift to shoot into the net.
That setback finally triggered a response from Doune and they equalised after 57 minutes with a fine goal.
Alan Inglis connected with an Andy Innes cross and his powerful downward header forced a fine parry but Robert Purves reacted instinctively to smash home the rebound from eight yards for 1-1.
Frustratingly, on 62 minutes and just as Doune looked likely to press home their greater possession, they conceded another sloppy goal. A Dal player reached a long ball forward ahead of Adam Smulski and calmly slid the ball home to make it 2-1 to the away side.
Doune pushed for the equaliser, but their play was over-frantic and a stubborn Dal Riata side defended determinedly.
Castle pressed to the final whistle, but they remained unable to translate their second half possession into goals and a hard-working Dal Riata ruthlessly capitalised on Doune’s frailties to collect the points.
Doune Castle: Smulski, D Innes (Duncanson), Macfarlane, Docherty, Mann, Macdougall, A Innes, McClure, Wilbert (Marshall), Inglis, Purves Substitutes: Coubrough, Haig