East Kilbride YM 2
Doune Castle 3

Calum Scott struck an 88th minute winner as Doune edged a pulsating contest. This was a game of the highest quality, with Doune sealing the points with three wonderful goals.

Three minutes in, Doune gave evidence of their attacking prowess with a lightning break down the right. Jack Wardrope released Sean Wilbert, allowing him to attack the byeline. Wilbert cut the ball back to Calum Scott some 16 yards out, wide of centre. Scott clipped a first-time, half-volley on the turn which curled inches wide of the goal.

East Kilbride made it 1-0 after 6 minutes with a special strike from Sean Winter.

Winter received the ball wide on the right side of the pitch. He took two strides forward before firing a powerful dipping volley that flew high over Allan Pacitti and dropped just under the bar and into the net at the far corner.

YM striker McDonagh was unlucky not to double their lead after 18 minutes. McDonagh held off two challenges at the edge of the box. He turned quickly, but his shot slipped narrowly wide of the post.

Doune equalised after 20 minutes with an outstanding team goal. Doune moved the ball forward with crisp, first-time passing that saw them carve open the YM defence.

Calum Scott sent Danny MacLaren clear down the right flank. He drilled the ball low across the face of the goal. David Innes timed his break forward to perfection and smashed the ball high into the net from 3 yards for 1-1.

The YM were stung into retaliation and only an outstanding intervention from Don Morrison prevented them re-taking the lead. Morrison timed his sliding challenge perfectly and diverted the ball wide for a corner when it seemed certain McDonagh would turn the ball home.

After 31 minutes, Danny MacLaren came close to giving Doune the lead.

Jack Steven harried the YM defence as they looked to bring the ball forward. MacLaren pounced to take the ball through the middle. His shot on the run left YM keeper Noble scampering to cover and he was relieved when the shot shaved the outside of the post.

Jack Wardrope squandered a good opportunity after 31 minutes.

Sean Wilbert won possession and slipped a pass through the YM central defenders to send Wardrope through on the keeper. As Noble raced from his line to narrow the angle, Wardrope clipped his shot over the advancing keeper, but watched in frustration as his rising effort slipped inches over the bar.

A minute later, East Kilbride capitalised on those two missed opportunities by grabbing a 2-1 lead.

Doune were slow to react to a corner taken quickly on the Castle left. The YM moved the ball out to James Cameron at the edge of the area. Cameron took a step inside before sliding a precise finish around two defenders and beyond the stranded Allan. Pacitti.

Two minutes before the interval, Calum Scott saw his flashing header from a Jack Wardrope corner slip wide of target as a highly entertaining half ended with East Kilbride 2-1 ahead.

The YM began the second half, clearly intent on extending their lead. They caught Doune cold with a break down their left. A low drive from just inside the area beat Allan Pacitti, but crashed off the base of the far post and rebounded to safety.

Doune responded with a fine effort from Danny MacLaren. MacLaren latched onto a slide-rule pass from Calum Scott to angle a first-time shot which Noble blocked with both legs.

The game became a midfield battle as both sides attacked determinedly, but found both defences too strong to breach.

After 73 minutes, Lukasz Duszynski broke the stalemate with a goal of individual brilliance.

Duszynski received the ball just left of centre some 25 yards out. He shimmied to his left to flat-foot two defenders. Duszynski then jinked back inside and curled a perfectly weighted shot around Noble’s despairing full-length dive and into the far corner for 2-2.

The match continued to swing from end to end, with both sides fully committed to taking all three points.

After 85 minutes, Lukasz Duszynski curled an inviting cross to the back post to Dean Manson. Manson outjumped his marker, but was left frustrated as his glancing header slipped a foot wide of the post.

East Kilbride then missed a glaring opportunity to win the game. Having caught the Castle on the counter-attack, the ball broke to McDonagh who seemed certain to score. To Doune’s immense relief, the striker pulled his shot wide of target and a great opportunity passed.

Doune took full advantage when they bagged the winner after 88 minutes with the goal of the game.

Lukasz Duszynski threaded the ball down the left flank to Calum Scott. Scott’s tireless running had given the YM rearguard a torrid time all afternoon. He received the ball tight to the byeline and under pressure from his marker. Scott’s quickness of feet mesmerised the defender and presented a route forward.

Scott danced inside another defender and sealed the win, by arrowing an unstoppable shot beyond the keeper and into the far corner of the net for 3-2.

That goal set up a thrilling climax to a wonderful game.

As the game continued to move from end-to-end it was Calum Scott who came closest to another goal. Despite having run himself into the ground, the striker found enough energy to hit one final effort and was unlucky to see it go wide of the post.

Doune then saw out the remainder of added time to record an outstanding win.

Doune Castle: Pacitti, Duszynski, Morrison, Manson, Nelson, D Innes (Smith), MacLaren, Wardrope, Steven (Burns), Wilbert (Stevenson), Scott Substitutes: Cramb, Brown

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