Head boy Hendrie lands three points for Milton

MILTON ...................................................... 2 DOUNE CASTLE ....................................... 1

Milton deservedly captured all three points with a storming second half performance, scoring a late winner to frustrate a Castle side that had been well worth their 1-0 interval lead.

Callum Hendrie was the Milton with two second half goals in a tough derby.

The defeat saw Doune lose their top spot in Caledonian League Division One as St Joseph’s leapfrogged them following their 4-1 victory over Westerlands.

But with the league entering its closing stages, Doune are still harbouring hopes of promotion.

The home side had an early goal chalked off for an infringement as the ball was nodded home from close-range before Castle’s Alan Inglis forced Milton keeper Ronan Fallens into a fine save.

Milton spurned a good opportunity after 19 minutes when Hendrie rose unchallenged to connect with a corner, but sent his effort well wide.

Doune took the lead in 31 minutes when Christopher Macdonald spotted Fallens off his line and deftly directed a right-foot lob over the keeper and several Milton defenders to nestle into the net.

Inglis and Callum Paterson both came close before the interval, with Doune well worthy their 1-0 half-time lead.

Milton started the second half clearly determined to seize control. After 48 minutes. they broke down the Castle right and cut the ball back towards the near post but the chance was missed and then keeper Callum Davison raced out his box to clear after a long clearance caught the Doune defence flat-footed.

After 58 minutes, Neil McRae held off his marker and curled a low first-time shot that eluded Fallens, but slipped inches wide.

Milton looked the more confident side and deservedly equalised after 69 minutes. Doune squandered possession in the middle of the park. Milton directed a testing cross towards the back post area and Hendrie outjumped several Castle defenders to power a header high over Davison for 1-1.

After 73 minutes, McRae was felled as he prepared to shoot from close-range but the referee dismissed Doune claims for a penalty.

Milton continued to surge forward and Davison twice produced decent saves from free kicks from distance. The home side dominated possession as Doune struggled to regain any fluency into their play.

The winner came after 82 minutes with a carbon copy of their first. Hendrie punished a hesitant Doune defence with another towering header that flew across Davison and into the corner of the net.

Inglis and Callum Smith had late efforts as Doune tried to salvage a late point. But the home side held firm to earn a win their determined second-half performance merited.

Doune Castle: Davison, Gillespie, Paterson, Nelson, D Innes, Hurst (McRae), A Innes (Campbell), McClure, Duszynski (Wilbert), Inglis, Macdonald (Smith) Substitute: Macfarlane