Doune Castle V Callander Thistle (18/01/2020)

Doune Castle 5
Callander Thistle 4

Robbie Hurst netted the winner deep in added time at the end of the game to ensure Doune won the derby.

Callander missed an early opportunity before Doune took the lead on 7 minutes.

Ross Macfarlane played the ball forward to Alan Inglis. He held off his marker to cushion the ball into the path of Sean Wilbert at the edge of the area. From 16 yards, Wilbert turned smartly to place a controlled, angled shot back across goal and into the far corner for 1-0.

Alan Inglis sent a dipping 25-yard free kick just over the bar before Doune made it 2-0 after 12 minutes.

Ross Macfarlane angled an inviting cross towards the penalty spot. Sean Wilbert reached the ball ahead of Joe Ghattas in the Callander goal to nudge a looping header high into the net.

Callander replied determinedly. Callum Davison made a remarkable save, palming over a powerful 14-yard half volley.

After 27 minutes, Callander made it 2-1. Doune failed to clear. The ball fell to Campbell at the left edge of the box. His angled effort eluded everyone and nestled in the far corner.

Robbie Hurst sent a 30-yard free kick narrowly wide.

On the half hour, Alan Inglis found Sean Wilbert with a defence-splitting pass. Without breaking stride, Wilbert took the ball on his chest to advance on Ghattas. Wilbert’s subtle dink over the keeper looked net-bound, but slipped narrowly wide.

Stevenson spurned a glorious chance to equalise for Callander on 33 minutes before Doune came close to regaining a two-goal advantage. Sean Wilbert was inches from connecting with a loose ball after Alan Inglis did well to direct the ball across the face of the goal.

Doune led 2-1 at the break.

Ross Macfarlane saw an early shot saved, after the full back had cut in from the right to create the opening.

Callander made it 2-2 after 53 minutes. Stevenson cut in from the right. His speculative cross deceived Callum Davison and flew into the top corner.

Less than a minute later, Doune edged back into a 3-2 lead.

David Innes broke down the left. He side-stepped inside and curled an enticing ball into the box. Andrew Gibson got the slightest of touches with his head and that was enough to divert it past Ghattas and into the empty net.

Remarkably, Callander again replied almost instantly with the third goal in as many minutes. The Doune defence was again flat-footed as an angled drive across goal from Campbell ended up in the far corner for 3-3.

Anesu Sweeney had been lively on his Castle debut. He carved out a good opportunity for Alan Inglis with a run and cross from the right. Inglis struck the ball well but Ghattas saved confidently.

Doune introduced Lukasz Duszynski and Ryan Meldrum on the hour as they looked to regain control of the midfield.

The Castle moved 4-3 ahead on 63 minutes.

Jonny Coubrough won the ball in defence and threaded a great ball through the middle to send Sean Wilbert through one-on-one with Ghattas. 25- yards out, Wilbert showed real composure to nudge the ball over the advancing keeper to send it home.

To the frustration of the home support, once more Doune squandered the lead within a minute.

Ryan Duncanson bundled into a Callander attacker to concede what looked like an avoidable penalty. Orr blasted the spot kick high into the net for 4-4.

Both sides created openings in a tense last 15 minutes.

With the clock showing 90 minutes, Doune missed what looked to be the game’s last chance. Sean Wilbert found Alan Inglis with a delightful cross. Inglis cushioned a deft header over the advancing Ghattas. It looked net-bound but slipped inches over the bar.

Doune grabbed the winner in the 94th minute.

Lukasz Duszynski skipped past a defender and was sent crashing to the floor for an uncontested spot kick. Alan Inglis struck the penalty well, but Ghattas dived to push the ball away. Robbie Hurst reacted quickest. He burst into the box to smash the ball wide of Ghattas to give Doune a dramatic 5-4 victory.

Doune Castle: Davison, Macfarlane, Coubrough, Duncanson, D. Innes, Gibson (Duszynski), Wilbert, McClymont (Meldrum), Hurst, Sweeney (A. Innes), Substitute: Tully