Clydebank 3
Stranraer 2
League Cup (Group 7)

Match Report

Early last season I said of Bobby Love, "He'd be better suited in a Victorian parlour scene than on a football pitch." After seeing Love play in this match, last Wednesday night, I'll eat my words, humbly.

Playing on a heavy pitch Love thrived on the tense atmosphere of this match.

He had his name taken in the second half, following a series of incidents in which a Stranraer player, Symington, was ordered off for using foul language, and Clark was booked.

This seemed to goad Love into getting his “dander” up and play some pretty determined football, mid field, shaking the Stranraer team on several occasions.

Repeating their performance against Cowdenbeath last week Clydebank got off to a very sluggish start. Gerry O'Brien sent out his feelers for gaps in the Stranraer defence right from the start, but after nine minutes 'Bankies were one goal down.

The ball came in from a left-wing corner. After a goalmouth struggle Gray cleared off the line but inside right Orr, of Stranraer, met the rebound and thundered the ball into the Clydebank goal.

Stranraer's joy was short lived. Eight minutes later Alan Munro equalised from a right-wing corner taken by Bobby Love. Meeting the ball high in the air he nodded it past outstretched 'keeper Sandy McLauchlan.

After this there was nothing in it between the teams. Jim Fallon was notable for his speed in defence but most of the play was staged around the middle of the field.

Bankies were thrown into the shadows again in the 37th minute. Left-half Leishman of Stranraer scored when he headed home a right wing cross. He sent the ball in low, and it looked as though Dick Madden had it covered but the ball ran under him, into the goal.

Clydebank looked at their poorest after this goal. Tommy McGhee, playing sergeant-major in defence, tried hard to rally his boys but for a while it looked as though the home team were going to go to the dogs. They were saved by the half time whistle.

The second half opened with a "BANG!”

Chaser Alan Munro brightened the Clydebank outlook when he scored only two minutes after the whistle, in the midst of a goalmouth melee. 'Keeper McLauchlan stood staring at the ball in wonderment.

Level pegging again. Bankies had everything to play for-and play they did!

Stranraer right back McLardie had a lucky break just after Munro equalised. Ian Hawkshaw tried to lob a high ball into the Stranraer goal and McLardie dived at it in an attempt to head clear.

Unfortunately, the ball went the wrong way and would have ended up in the back of the net had it not been for 'keeper McLauchlan.

Sensing the danger Stranraer's tactics began to show a glimmer of desperation. It was during the next ten minutes that the fouls ran rife, and Bobby Love came into his own.

The winning goal was a cracker 15 minutes from time. Love brought the ball down the field and passed to Caskie. Beating two defenders Caskie sent in a low shot from 10 yards which hit off the 'keeper's foot, into the goal.

Kilbowie erupted! Hordes of little I boys swarmed onto the field after this goal. Appeals for the field to be cleared had to be sent over the public address system.

This was a great game for "Bankies, but Stranraer should never have faded away as they did in the second half.

Match report written by Oliver McGeachy (Clydebank Press)