Doune Castle 4
Bearsden 2

Deep in added time, Sean Heaver stroked home the Castle’s fourth goal to quash Bearsden’s late fightback and ensured Doune’s passage into the Scottish Cup 7th Round draw.

Dylan McGowan opened the scoring after 5 minutes with a spectacular strike.

Alan Inglis challenged for a long ball played through the middle of the Bearsden defence. Inglis was unable to gain control and the ball ricocheted back towards Dylan McGowan.

On the run, McGowan met the ball first time and hooked an unstoppable dipping volley from 25 yards that flew over the Bearsden keeper and nestled into the far corner of the net to make it 1-0.

Bearsden replied almost immediately and equalised after 7 minutes.

Doune conceded a corner down their right flank. The ball was swung viciously into the heart of the Castle six-yard box. Steven Fotheringham managed to get an unconvincing touch on the ball and could only push it out towards the middle of the penalty area. A Bearsden player smashed a low drive from 14 yards into the left corner of the net to make it 1-1.

Niall McClure won possession in the middle and drove through the heart of the Bearsden defence. 25 yards out, McClure cut inside and rifled a low drive from 22 yards the keeper did well to collect low to his left.

On 12 minutes, Sean Heaver swept a corner from the right into the centre of the Bearsden area. Alan Inglis met the ball cleanly but headed a yard over from 12 yards.

On 18 minutes, Steven Fotheringham did well to smother a low strike from 22 yards after Bearsden had broken through the heart of the Castle backline.

A minute later, Fotheringham produced an outstanding save. Bearsden swung a free kick from the right deep into the Castle area. A forward powered a header towards the top corner. Fotheringham pulled off a fine stop, leaping high to his left to tip the ball over the bar.

After 28 minutes, Steven Fotheringham again had to be alert to collect a low strike from 25 yards as Bearsden pushed forward.

After 30 minutes, Kenny Feaks drilled a fine diagonal ball from deep to set Sean Heaver clear down the left flank. Heaver cut inside to dance past two defenders before skimming a low strike that flashed through to the keeper.

A fine Castle move almost saw them snatch the lead again after 35 minutes.

Sean Heaver weaved his way down the left wing, leaving two defenders in his wake. He dipped inside and played a clever one-two with Niall McClure before slipping the ball onto Chris Ogilvie. Ogilvie zipped a fierce shot from 23 yards out that flashed narrowly over the bar.

After 42 minutes, the Castle edged into a 2-1 lead.

Alan More curled a free kick from the left into the heart of the Bearsden defence. Alan Inglis met the ball first to glance a header towards the far corner. The keeper reacted quickly, but pushed the ball out towards the back post where Chris Ogilvie had charged forward in support. Ogilvie calmly forced the ball home from close range to give Doune a crucial interval lead.

Doune restarted brightly. Niall McClure took control in the middle and sprayed a lovely ball out to Dylan McGowan who had taken up a wide right position. McGowan swung an inviting ball into the box. Alan Inglis rose above everyone to direct a strong header goalwards. The Bearsden keeper reacted sharply and collected high to his right.

On 55 minutes, Sean Heaver sped down the left wing before cutting inside to play a pass to set Niall McClure free on goal. McClure hammered a low strike towards the far corner, but was denied by a fine, full-length save from the keeper.

Two minutes later, Doune failed to pick up at a set piece and the Bearsden forward should have done better than direct his unchallenged header over the bar from 12 yards.

Doune made it 3-1 after 76 minutes.

Doune swarmed into the Bearsden penalty area down the left flank and exchanged a series of clever passes that unsettled the resolute Bearsden rearguard.

Lukasz Duszynski wrong-footed the backline with an intelligent back heel that set Sean Heaver clear. Heaver brought the ball under control, drew the keeper and planted an unstoppable drive into the far corner of the net from 14 yards.

Doune seemed well in control of the closing stages but gifted Bearsden a route back into the game with a soft goal after 83 minutes.

The home side were casual in possession and needlessly conceded a free kick wide right of the area some 25 yards out.

Bearsden curled the ball high towards the back post. It deceived Steven Fotheringham and looped over his head to drop at the feet of an unmarked forward. From 4 yards, he happily accepted the opportunity to side foot home to make it 3-2.

From having rarely threatened the Castle defence in the second half, the away side suddenly sensed a replay might now be possible and charged forward.

With 4 minutes remaining, a midfielder broke clear on the right but failed to hit the target, his shot flashing a yard past the far post.

Doune killed the game with the crucial fourth goal two minutes into added time to guarantee their place in the tournament’s last 16.

With almost the entire Bearsden side committed forward, the Doune defence thumped a long clearance upfield. Colin Burke reacted quickly and lunged to block the centre-back’s attempted return.

The ball spun loose to Sean Heaver who gathered the ball a yard inside the Bearsden half. Heaver sprinted clear and drove into the box. He calmly drew the keeper and lashed the ball home into the left corner from 16 yards to make it 4-2, sealing a deserved, if hard-earned Doune win.

Doune Castle: Fotheringham, Burns, Smith Feaks, More, Ogilvie, McGowan (Holmes), McClure, Duszynski, Inglis (Burke), Heaver Substitutes: Duncanson, Stevenson, Mills

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