Jeanfield Swifts 1
Doune Castle 3

Doune booked their place in the Scottish Amateur Cup third round with a convincing win in Perth. Chris Stevenson set the Castle on their way with two towering headers within the first quarter of an hour.

The home side pulled themselves back into the game on the stroke of half-time with a controversial goal. However, on his return after a long lay-off through injury, substitute Christopher Macdonald killed the tie with a composed late finish.

Doune sped into a 1-0 lead after 8 minutes. Danny MacLaren curled a perfectly-weighted corner into the heart of the area. Chris Stevenson rose high above everyone to bullet an unstoppable header high into the net from 8 yards.

2 minutes later, Lukasz Duszynski broke down the right wing and squared the ball to Danny Maclaren, who had continued his run into the box. Maclaren cushioned the ball back to Callum Paterson. He hammered a raking low drive goalwards, only to see it hacked clear with the keeper rooted.

Jonny Burns set off on a mazy tun from deep to create an opening on goal. Burns struck the ball cleanly, but saw his effort slip narrowly wide.

Calum Scott forced the home keeper into a decent stop after 14 minutes. Scott curled a free kick from 22 yards around the defensive wall. The keeper saw it late, but gathered the shot low to his right.

Chris Stevenson made it 2-0 after 14 minutes with a carbon-copy of his first. Danny MacLaren directed another inch-perfect corner into the crowded box. Stevenson again rose highest to head powerfully past the keeper from 10 yards.

A bewildered Jeanfield threatened for the first time after 16 minutes. They attacked down the Castle right. Allan Pacitti had to be alert to dive full-length to push clear a low drive from the left edge of the area.

The Swifts came close to pulling one back after 27 minutes.

Doune lost possession 25 yards out and Jeanfield threaded an inviting ball across the face of goal. A brilliant, sliding intervention from Dean Manson cleared the danger to preserve the Castle’s 2-goal advantage.

On the half-hour mark, Callum Paterson split the home defence with a fine pass to Calum Scott, who was hugging the touchline wide on the right. Scott darted inside and drove a scorching low drive that beat the keeper, but slipped inches wide of the far post.

Calum Scott curled a free kick wide of target as Doune looked to extend their lead before the break.

Two minutes into added time, Jeanfield made it 2-1 with a controversial goal.

Doune needlessly conceded a direct free kick 22 yards out with a rash challenge. As Allan Pacitti was setting up his defensive wall, the referee allowed Jeanfield to take a quick free kick that caught everyone off guard. Allan Pacitti scurried across goal, but was unable to prevent the ball flying high into the net.

The half-time whistle arrived with almost the entire Castle side still irate with the referee.

The interval did nothing to calm Doune’s sense of injustice, this in stark contrast to the home side who were clearly buoyant at being back in the game - after having been outplayed for most of the first 45 minutes.

Jeanfield enjoyed an early spell of pressure at the start of the second half. Alan Pacitti had to be alert to punch clear a fierce strike from the right-edge of the box. The Castle keeper then leapt high to palm away an out-swinging corner to the back post.

Doune finally regained their composure and started to move the ball around with confidence. Jeanfield were pegged back and made to work hard as the Castle probed down both flanks.

Calum Scott set off on a mazy run into the box from the right. He drilled a low shot the keeper blocked with his legs, with a couple of Castle players hoping for a cut-back.

After 55 minutes, Lukasz Duszynski dribbled forward and slipped a deft pass inside to Chris Stevenson. His first-touch was good, but his shot from 12 yards crashed off the outside of the post, with the keeper beaten.

Doune introduced their substitutes to keep the pressure on a Jeanfield side now looking leg-weary in midfield and in defence.

After 64 minutes, Lukasz Duszynski outpaced two defenders and hit the bye-line. He drilled a low cross towards the near post. Callum Smith anticipated the pass and met the ball ahead of the keeper and defenders. Unfortunately, Smith’s first-time shot flashed inches past.

Jeanfield’s front three remained a threat on the counter-attack. Allan Pacitti made another decisive clearance, rising high to punch clear after a break down the right.

Calum Scott outpaced the full-back and squared to Callum Smith. Smith struck a first-time shot from 8 yards that flew over the bar.

The referee continued to bemuse Doune with a number of contentious decisions. Both Lukasz Duszynski and Calum Scott were victims of a series of heavy challenges, only to find themselves being cautioned for what the referee then judged was simulation.

This time, Doune retained their composure and continued to attack in waves. Don Morrison and Dean Manson were solid in the heart of the Castle defence and always available as an easy option as Doune sensibly protected the ball.

Christopher Macdonald’s welcome return to action also added to the Castle threat as he weaved his way forward on the left. After 75 minutes, Macdonald put the game beyond date with the crucial third goal.

Calum Scott did well to release Macdonald on the left. Macdonald eluded one defender and advanced into the area. As the keeper came off his line, Macdonald finished with aplomb, guiding the ball low into the net from 14 yards for 3-1.

Jeanfield battled to the end, with their forwards always looking for an opportunity to test Allan Pacitti. After 83 minutes, the Castle keeper made another decent save, touching a shot from the edge of the box over the bar.

But, an assured Doune controlled the closing stages, still calmly keeping possession and looking likely to add to their tally with their effective wing play. They comfortably saw the game out, thoroughly deserving their place in the last 64.

Doune Castle: Pacitti, Campbell (Cramb), Morrison, Manson, Burns, Paterson (Smith), Duszynski (Brown), MacLaren, Macdougall, Scott, Stevenson (Macdonald)

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