Clydebank 0
Motherwell 4
League (Division 2)

Match Report

The absence of Dick Madden in the Clydebank goal was obvious at this game at Kilbowie Park. Unfortunately for Clydebank, Madden was detained in bed with flu over the weekend, and his place had to be taken by young keeper Brady.

Brady tried hard to maintain his colleague’s high standard in goal, but there was absolutely nothing he could do. The Clydebank defence lacked cohesion and strength and a formidable Motherwell forward line simply stepped over them.

At the beginning of the match both teams played well. It took them some time to master the hard ground conditions but Brian Sheerin, playing at outside left for Bankies, managed on several occasions to break down the left wing, thus exposing the Motherwell goal, but Brian did not have the support to follow up these runs.

After several attempts, Brian tried to take the ball through on his own in the 10th minute. He has the spectators sitting on the edge of a razor as he ran down the left wing then made his way through the Motherwell defence. He left a trail of players behind him, only to be dispossessed at the goalmouth by right back Whiteford.

The first Motherwell goal came as a result of Whiteford’s clearance. The ball was passed to the right wing where outside right Wilson gained possession. He took the ball up the field then passed into inside right McInally who sent a low eight yard shot, past keeper Brady into the Clydebank net.

Four minutes later, Motherwell increased their lead when inside left Forsyth took a shot at the Clydebank goal. Keeper Brady made a valiant attempt to save the ball and he managed to dive and punch it into the air. Centre forward Deans, of Motherwell must have been waiting for this. He ran in to meet the ball and blasted it into the back of the net.

The remainder of the first half was had fought. Clydebank tried desperately to pull back on the score but they were outclassed by the Second Division leaders.

Motherwell opened the second half attacking with vehemence. It was clear that they were not going to rest on their laurels. Clydebank tried hard to get back into the game, but that is all that could be said of them. They had no answer to Motherwell’s brilliant attacking football.

Gola number three came in the 56th minute from Forsyth of Motherwell. He met a right wing cross 18 yards out from the Clydebank goal and sent a lovely shot under keeper Brady.

Ina desperate attempt to make the Clydebank forwards to pull together, Brian Sheering was brough off in the 57th minute & young Gerry O’Brien put on in his place.

Although three goals down, Clydebank kept coming back for more but the Motherwell defence had an answer for everything they did.

Ian Hawkshaw came close to scoring in the 61st minute after Eddie Rutherford was brought down just outside the Motherwell penalty area. Rutherford took the resultant free kick himself and he lobbed a high one into the goalmouth. Hawkshaw was waiting for it and he tried to head the ball home, but it slipped over the bar.

The nearest miss of the game came from O’Brien in the 81st minute. He took the ball from left back Wark 25 yards out and tried to score from where he stood. The ball hit the upright but keeper McCloy of Motherwell would not have stood a chance against the shot.

A penalty only three minutes from time gave Motherwell the game. Henderson tackled outside left Murray inside the box and brought him down. Murray took the kick himself and sent the ball into the corner of the net.

“Pull yer socks up Bankies. Yer tripping over them.”