Doune Castle 2
Glasgow University 2
(Doune Castle win 5-3 on penalties)

Trailing 2-0 at the interval, Glasgow University staged a stirring second-half fightback to take this Douglas Smith League Cup tie to a penalty shoot-out. The Castle then went nap, converting all of their spot kicks, while keeper Allan Pacitti made a crucial save to ensure Doune booked their place in Round 2.

The University forced an early save from Allan Pacitti, who had to be alert to push away a low drive from outside the area that skidded off the greasy Moray Park surface.

Doune dominated possession during the opening period. It was no surprise when they took the lead after 15 minutes.

Jack Steven latched onto a loose clearance after a cross caused panic in the student defence. 16 yards out, Steven met the ball first-time on the half-volley to curl an unstoppable shot high into the net past the stranded Wood for 1-0.

Glasgow were dangerous on the counter-attack and gave warning of their goal threat after 19 minutes. A forward gathered possession inside the area and fired a shot that hit the outside of the post.

After 27 minutes, a sweeping move saw Doune come close to doubling their lead.

Jack Steven released Danny MacLaren down the right. MacLaren hit the byeline and threaded an inviting ball across the face of goal. Callum Smith threw himself forward, but was just unable to connect when any contact would surely have produced a goal.

On 35 minutes, Dean Manson created a good opening with a lovely cross-field pass to Callum Smith. He passed inside to Sean Wilbert. Wilbert’s raking low drive flew past Wood, but flashed a foot wide.

Doune made it 2-0 after 37 minutes with a wonderful goal from Danny MacLaren.

Jack Steven dissected the University defence with a precise pass between the two centre-backs to send Danny MacLaren through on goal. MacLaren spotted Glasgow keeper Wood had raced from his line and, from 25 yards, deftly lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net.

Glasgow continued to move the ball confidently. Shortly before the interval they had anther decent effort on goal. Unfortunately for them, their shot went wide of goal without troubling Allan Pacitti.

Doune re-started brightly and again came close after 48 minutes.

Following a corner from the left, Tam Nelson took possession 25 yards out wide on the right. Nelson curled an inch-perfect ball behind the student backline. But the ball eluded Callum Smith and Jamie Brown who had both thrown themselves at the cross.

Glasgow pulled themselves right back into the game with a goal out of nothing after 55 minutes.

Their forward received the ball unchallenged left of centre at the edge of the box. He cut inside and hammered a fierce shot at Allan Pacitti. Pacitti looked to have pushed the ball over, but the ball spun down unexpectedly and ended up in the net at the far corner for 2-1.

Having played second fiddle for the entire match, that goal clearly gave the University hope. Less than a minute after they had scored, they rifled another effort that Allan Pacitti saved with a terrific leg-block.

On 68 minutes, Gavin Campbell surged down the Castle left before shooting just wide of the far post after he had broken clear of the University defence. A minute later, Campbell threaded a dangerous ball across the face of the goal. Yet again, however, no Castle forward could take advantage.

Doune continued to press. Alan Inglis sprayed a fine ball wide to Gavin Campbell, whose pace was clearly troubling the University defence. Campbell drove into the box, but his angled drive flashed wide of the far post.

On 75 minutes, Glasgow made it 2-2 with a stunning strike.

There seemed no danger when their forward took possession 25 yards out. He took one touch to control and then unleashed a bullet of a shot that flew high into the net past a helpless Allan Pacitti.

That goal finally seemed to jolt Doune out of a lethargy that had gradually crept into their play. For the first time in the match, they started to pass the ball with greater urgency and conviction and they hemmed back the University.

On 76 minutes, Callum Macdougall stung the keeper’s fingers with a blistering snap-shot from all of 28 yards. Within minutes, both Callum Smith and Danny MacLaren came close with crisp shots from inside the area. MacLaren’s effort led to a Castle corner that he took himself. When the ball came over, Dean Manson headed over the bar from a good position.

The siege continued into the last 10 minutes.

On 83 minutes, Gavin Campbell found Callum Macdougall with a perfectly-flighted cross from the left. Macdougall rose unchanged, but his glancing header from less than 6 yards agonisingly slipped an inch past the post.

Twice with the final three minutes, Chris Stevenson found himself with a clear shot at goal. On each occasion, however, he struck his low drive too close to the keeper, who pulled off a fine double-save.

The final whistle took the teams to the penalty shoot-out that had become increasingly likely after the Castle squandered several decent chances in those closing stages.

Tam Nelson, Alan Inglis, Danny MacLaren and Callum Macdougall all converted their spot kick with confidence. Allan Pacitti made a crucial save to smother Glasgow’s second spot kick to give Doune the vital advantage. Chris Stevenson confidently dispatched the fifth Castle penalty well wide of the keeper to send Doune into the next round, winning the shoot-out 5-3.

Doune Castle: Pacitti, Brown (Macdougall), Morrison (Paterson), Manson, Nelson, Cramb (Campbell), MacLaren, Steven, Burns (Inglis), Wilbert (Stevenson), Smith Substitutes: Duszynski, Wardrope

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