Raith Rovers 3
Clydebank 0
League (Division 2)

Match Report

Clydebank's wait for a first league win continued on Saturday as they were comprehensively beaten 3–0 by a strong Raith Rovers side at Stark’s Park, with inside-right Pat Gardner netting a hat-trick to seal the points for the home side.

The scoreline, while fair based on the second-half showing, masked a more evenly contested first period in which Clydebank defended stoutly and restricted Raith to few clear chances. Goalkeeper Ronnie Wilson had little to do before the interval, making just two notable saves as most of the home side’s attacking moves faltered around the edge of the penalty area.

However, once the second half got underway, Raith’s superiority began to tell. Gardner broke the deadlock with a spectacular strike from 25 yards, a powerful rising effort that left Wilson with no chance. From that moment, the Fife side took full control of the match.

Clydebank, who had experimented with an unorthodox forward set-up—with winger John Wark drifting across to the right side—rarely threatened the Raith goal. Their makeshift approach up front caused some confusion, and while it occasionally drew defenders out of position, it ultimately lacked cohesion and bite.

Gardner doubled Raith’s lead just after the hour mark, pouncing on a loose ball in the box and stabbing it home with a scuffed effort that wrong-footed Wilson. The Bankies' backline, who had done well to contain Raith for long spells, began to tire and lose focus in the closing stages. With two minutes left, they stood off inexplicably as Gardner completed his hat-trick, nodding in a Davidson lob unchallenged.

Despite the defeat, Clydebank can take some credit for their first-half resistance and defensive organisation. But with just four goals league goals scored so far and zero points to show for their efforts, there are concerns about their cutting edge in front of goal.

Raith, on the other hand, look to be hitting their stride. This was their fourth straight league victory and their sixth consecutive win in all competitions, and on current form they appear well-placed to mount a serious promotion challenge.

For Clydebank, the challenge remains to turn promising passages of play into results—and soon.

Match report written by Stuart McBay