Blackridge Vale of Craig 0
Doune Castle 7

Doune swept into the East Cup third round with a thoroughly dominant display.

The Castle withstood anticipated early pressure from the home side before easing into a 2-0 interval lead. After the break, Doune moved into top gear and overwhelmed Blackridge with some crisp attacking play, backed-up by clinical finishing. A frustrated Blackridge lost their composure in the closing stages, 2 red cards compounding a miserable day for the hosts.

Blackridge enjoyed some early pressure. After 5 minutes, Alan Pacitti had to be alert to punch clear at his near post after an attack down the Doune left flank. A few minutes later, Pacitti made an even better save, bending backwards to tip over a dipping effort from 16 yards that seemed net-bound.

Doune opened the scoring after 13 minutes.

Gavin Campbell won possession just inside the Vale half. Campbell threaded a defence-splitting pass forward to Calum Scott who had broken clear of his marker to find space on the right. Scott played in Lukasz Duszynski who powered into the box before beating the keeper at his near post with a thunderous finish from 14 yards for 1-0.

Calum Scott almost doubled the Doune lead within a minute. Scott received the ball from Jack Wardrope before whipping in a diagonal shot that forced a good save from the keeper.

On his return to the starting line-up after a long lay-off through injury, Christopher Macdonald posed a constant threat down the left wing. After 21 minutes, Macdonald cut in from the left, but saw his curling shot slip narrowly wide.

3 minutes later, Macdonald broke into the area again and dragged the ball beyond two defenders. Macdonald then tried to slip a shot on the turn under the advancing keeper. His effort lacked power, however, and the keeper saved comfortably.

On 26 minutes, Calum Scott was scythed down on the right edge of the area. Christopher Macdonald curled the resultant free kick over the wall and beat the keeper all ends up. However, the ball dipped inches over the bar to run down the back of the net.

Dean Manson saw his towering header from a Calum Scott fee kick cleared off the line as Doune probed for the second.

Doune did make it 2-0 after 35 minutes with a clinical strike from Christopher Macdonald. Callum Macdougall played the ball wide to Calum Scott. He drilled a low ball across the face of the goal. Christopher Macdonald arrived at the back post to volley home from 6 yards.

Dean Manson came close with another strong header minutes before the interval, but Blackridge held out, leaving Doune 2-0 ahead at the break.

3 minutes into the second half, Dean Manson powered forward with a surging run from deep that saw him leave three Vale players training in his wake. Manson fired a dipping drive from 25 yards that flew wide of the right-hand post.

Doune all but sealed the tie after 55 minutes.

Christopher Macdonald drilled a corner from the left into the heart of the area. A defender could only miscue his attempted clearance to the back post. Callum Macdougall rose above everyone to power a downward header from 4 yards into the net for 3-0.

Doune then took the opportunity to introduce all of their substitutes, without interrupting the fluency of their play.

The Castle made it 4-0 after 62 minutes. Evan Balfour played the ball into the area. Jack Steven moved the ball forward to Calum Scott. Scott showed his striker’s instinct, deftly re-directing his flick-shot across the keeper and into the far corner from 8 yards.

A now ragged Blackridge started to lose their discipline, unable to match Doune's crisp inter-play and frustrated at what they perceived as harsh treatment at the hands of the referee. It was little surprise when they were reduced to 10 men after 74 minutes, following a second caution. 4 minutes later, they were reduced to 9 men for an almost identical offence.

Already well on top, Doune took full advantage.

On 80 minutes, Calum Scott bagged his second of the game with a lovely finish after Callum Macdougall sent him clear with a precise pass through the middle of the defence. Scott advanced on the keeper before sliding home into the right-hand corner from 16 yards for 5-0.

Callum Smith made it 6-0 after 83 minutes. Smith saw his first effort from 12 yards saved. He calmly followed-up to drill the ball home with a clean finish.

Two minutes later, Jack Steven prised open the Blackridge defence with a perfectly-timed diagonal ball to send Callum Smith clear on goal. Smith carried the ball wide of the keeper before slotting home from 12 yards for 7-0.

Doune attacked to the final whistle, but were unable to add to their impressive tally.

Doune Castle: Pacitti, Campbell (Gillespie), Balfour, Morrison, Manson, Macdougall, Stevenson (Smith), Wardrope (A Innes), Scott, Duszynski, Macdonald (Steven)

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