A POOR defensive display in the first half cost Doune Castle another game in the East of Scotland Cup at the weekend.

Coming back into the fight, the Castle managed to go level in the second act, but ultimately crashed out to a late winner against Lochend.

Doune found itself behind early on after the opposition's forward rose high unchallenged to power a header into the net from 10 yards.

Slack marking gifted a second goal to Lochend after 22 minutes, when a another header flashed into the goal from eight yards.

The Castle pulled one back after the restart when Jacob Macaloney scored his first goal for the team with a blistering right foot drive.

Hopes were high, but the opposing squad made it 3 – 1 after 28 minutes, taking full advantage of hesitancy in the defence to hammer one in from 10 yards.

Clearly unsettling Doune, Lochend's route-one football and robust physical play made full use of the strong wind blowing down the pitch.

After witching sides, Doune had the wind behind them and made it 3 – 2 after 53 minutes when Alan More turned quickly and angled a shot on the turn beyond the advancing keeper. Lukasz Duszynski followed up to take a touch before slotting it in from six yards.

The Castle equalised just six minutes later when Macaloney put Chris Ogilvie clear just inside the box. His 12 yard snapshot slipped under the goalie's gloves and into the net.

With 15 minutes left, Doune had a number of chances, but was unfortunate not to find the winning shot.

It looked like the match will go into extra time when Lochend hit Doune with a sucker punch after 87 minutes. A forward played the ball into the box with a teammate connecting to side foot home from eight yards.

A late barrage saw two Doune corners, but Lochend stood firm to take their place in the quarter finals.

Doune Castle: Fotheringham, Innes, Currie, Docherty, Duncanson, McClymont (Burns), Macaloney (McGowan), Graham (Statter), Ogilvie, More, Duszynski Substitutes: Morrison, Gallagher.