Successful season ends with cup defeat
WESTERLANDS ........................................ 2 DOUNE CASTLE ....................................... 0
Doune Castle ended their season with a disappointing Challenge Cup defeat in Glasgow to Westerlands.
The Castle dominated possession but defensive lapses and a failure to convert any of the many chances they created cost them the tie.
In the early stages, Callum Smith sped clear of his marker and rifled an inviting ball across the face of goal. Sean Wilbert arrived at the back post but was inches from connecting with the keeper well beaten.
Four minutes later, Robbie Hurst sent Sean Wilbert clear with a defence-splitting 30-yard diagonal ball. Wilbert drove into the area, but was denied by Westies keeper Davis who blocked with his legs.
On 34 minutes, Tam Nelson nudged a long throw towards the back post. Jamie Bone threw himself full-length and did well to make any connection, but his close-range header flashed narrowly past.
After dominating the half, Doune fell behind five minutes before the break. Callum Macdougall under-hit his attempted pass to give a Westies forward a clear run on goal and they took full advantage to take a 1-0 lead that was very much against the run of play.
Doune were stung into immediate reply. Gavin Campbell saw his powerful header cleared of the line but Doune trailed 1-0 at the break.
Westerlands started the second half strongly, sensing a second goal would leave Doune a mountain to climb. The home side created two good chances in the first five minutes, but on both occasions shot wide.
After 57 minutes, Wilbert spun and rifled a fierce drive that cannoned back of the lefthand upright. A minute later, he gathered the ball on the edge of the area and surged past the central defender. For the second time in a minute, he was left frustrated as his blistering beat the keeper, but hit the crossbar and flew to safety.
After 80 minutes, Macdougall rose high at the back post to meet a Hurst corner from the right. The header beat Davis, but slipped inches over.
Doune continued to press, probing for the equaliser their play merited but with the game deep in added time, the Castle’s fate was sealed with the latest of sucker-punches.
The Doune defence all pushed forward looking for an equaliser and a simple long ball over the backline sent the Westies centre clear. He finished neatly to seal an unlikely 2-0 win for the home side.
Doune Castle: Davison, Macfarlane, Mcrae, Macdougall, Nelson, Hurst, Duszynski, Campbell (Mccue), Bone (Brough), Smith (Ferguson), Wilbert