ON a day of abject frustration, defensive errors cost Doune dearly and presented the points to Gartcosh.

Doune clawed back a two-goal deficit to draw level but the loss of two careless goals in the last four minutes undid all their good play and saw Doune take nothing from a game they dominated.

Doune were denied a blatant a penalty after eight minutes.

Then, very much against the run of play, Gartcosh grabbed a 1-0 lead after 11 minutes. Hesitancy in the Castle defence allowed a ‘Cosh forward to make it 1-0.

With Doune dominating, Gartcosh snatched another goal against the run of play.

Doune dithered defensively and needlessly conceded a corner. The ball fell to an unmarked forward who stabbed the ball under the advancing Malcolm Scott from five yards to make it 2-0.

As half-time beckoned, Doune hauled themselves back into the game.

Chris Ogilvie latched onto a loose ball just inside the box and curled a pinpoint cross to the back post. Graham McClymont was on hand to nod home from close range to make it 2-1 after 44 minutes.

Doune equalised after 78 minutes, courtesy of a rare error from Gartcosh keeper Wilson.

Seconds after entering the fray from the bench, Andy Innes chased down the keeper as he advanced to the edge of his area to clear. Innes blocked his attempted clearance, gathered the loose ball and slid it home from 14 yards to make it 2-2.

Gartcosh snatched a goal out of nothing after 89 minutes to edge into a vital 3-2 lead.

With the game four minutes into added time, Gartcosh took full advantage of a Doune side now forced to push everyone forward in pursuit of an equaliser. Gartcosh again broke at speed down the Castle right and netted the goal the killed the game at 4-2.

Doune were left to rue a catalogue of missed chances and an uncharacteristic deluge of self-inflicted damage.

Doune Castle: Scott, Macaloney (Currie), D Innes, McClymont, Duncanson, Statter, McGowan (A Innes), Ogilvie, Graham (McLachlan), McClure, More Substitutes: Burns, B Morrison