Clydebank 1
Berwick Rangers 1
League (Division 2)

Match Report

A penalty in the fifth minute gave Clydebank an early lead, which they managed to hold on to for the whole of the first half.

Berwick looked pretty poor, their passing was not up to much, and their defence could have been blown over had it not been for keeper/manager Jock Wallace holding them together, But they surprised Bankies by proving to be far the stronger team in the second half.

Clydebank fielded their minor wizard team, with only one exception, Eddie Rutherford, who has injury trouble, was replaced by McGunnigle.

The great penalty which put Clydebank in front came when big Alan Munro, the Clydebank centre forward, was running in from the left wing. He was brought down heavily just inside the box and referee Balfour pointed to the spot.

Ian Hawkshaw took the kick and sent it low into the right hand corner of the net.

Clydebank failed to make the best of this penalty; the Berwick lads were obviously stunned by it; their defence were split wide open; and yet Clydebank didn't get near the goal until Hawkshaw ran through in the 15th minute.

He tried to dribble his way into the Berwick area but finally plumped for a 20 yard shot which went past the right post.

This shot helped the Clydebank youngsters on their way and it was not long before their shots began to find the mark, and they were coming more frequently.

Hay shook the Berwick defence when he picked up a McGunnigle pass which he sharply blasted at Jock Wallace in the 20th minute.

This shot was taken from almost 50 yards out, nearly at the centre line, and it came close enough to give Jock Wallace a hair cut.

Bad luck struck Berwick in the 35th minute when centre forward Jim Hamilton had to come off to the sidelines with a right knee injury.

While Jim was on the sidelines Berwick centre half Smith came down with a leg injury or cramp. Substitute Jones was brought on. Jim Hamilton managed to complete the game, although limping badly.

Right from the second half whistle it was obvious that Berwick had shrugged off their "first half blues" and were looking for some action.

I think this frightened the Clydebank lads who through inexperience, lost themselves trying to hold the visitors back.

Dick Madden was really tested for the first time in the 52nd minute when outside left Dowds picked up a Jones cross which he smashed at the Clydebank goal. Its just as well Dick Madden had quick reflexes.

Five minutes later, inside left Brown tried to head home a right wing cross from close in, but Dick Madden punched it clear.

Clydebank had been looking pretty lax until now but things were getting difficult and they were forced to form up.

The Berwick goal came from a Hamilton pass in the 81st minute. Substitute Jones was nicely positioned close into the Clydebank goal and he only needed to tap the ball to put it past Dick Madden.

Both teams had something to fight for now, and for the first time the game began to look really lively. Both sets of forwards had got into the swing of things and the ball was sent all over the pitch on several occasions bouncing off the uprights and crossbars of both goals.

Young Jimmy Caskie, playing at outside left for Clydebank, nearly put one home from a right wing corner near the end of the game.

The ball was crossed in, Caskie was standing at the outer edge of the Berwick defence and he lobbed the ball over their heads at the goal.

Jock Wallace leaped at the ball and knocked it over the bar for another corner, which was easily cleared.

This was not one of Clydebank's best games by any means. By the same token Berwick were nothing like the team that beat Bankies 4-2 at Kilbowie last month in the League Cup.