DOUNE CASTLE could not match a clinical display of counter-attacking football from Strathclyde University at the weekend.

Despite netting three excellent goals themselves, the Castle failed to cope with the away team's ability to break at lightning pace.

After 12 minutes, the Glasgow side edged into a 1 – 0 lead when the ball took a wicked bounce of the artificial surface and the students broke into the box to finish with a calm side-foot shot.

Six minutes later, Doune managed to equalise.

David Goodwillie curled a defence-splitting pass to Dylan McGowan on the opposite flank.

McGowan played a return pass to Goodwillie who had continued his run into the box. He spun to rifle an angled shot into the far corner from eight yards.

Instantly quashing early Castle hopes, Strathclyde took the lead again with a well timed pass putting a striker within finishing distance for a simple side-foot finish, making it 2 – 1.

Doune grabbed a second equaliser after 32 minutes when Chris Ogilvie flashed a corner deep towards to the penalty spot.

Goodwillie rose above several defenders to direct a powerful header into the high corner.

Just a few minutes before the break, a perfect clipped volley from the edge of the area gave the Glasgow side the lead again.

In the second act, Doune spurned two good chances with Strathclyde capitalising to make it 4 – 2 after 64 minutes.

There seemed no danger when the away team's forward gathered the ball from a throw-in 35 yards out on the touchline.

The student spotted keeper Steven Fotheringham in an advanced position and hammered an unstoppable dipping half volley over the Castle keeper into the top corner.

Just a few minutes before the final whistle, Doune managed to bring it back to 4 – 3 after continuous pressure.

Ogilvie fired another excellent corner into the area with James Graham ran across his marker to angle a header past the keeper.

Kenny Feaks followed up to smash the ball high into the net from four yards.

Despite another flurry, Doune was unable to snatch the late draw.

Doune Castle: Fotheringham, Burns (Macaloney), D Innes, Docherty, Duncanson (Feaks), Statter (Graham), McGowan, More, Ogilvie, Goodwillie, Heaver (A Innes) Substitute: Scott