Clydebank 0
Arbroath 2
League (Division 2)

Match Report

Fielding the youngest team in the Scottish League this season, with Bobby Love being the only player over 19 years of age, Bankies faced one of the toughest matches of the season, against newly relegated Arbroath, and failed miserably,

Not that Arbroath were any great shakes! Although they had the edge on experience the visitors looked decidedly shaky in most aspects of the game and didn't manage to take the lead until 10 minutes from time.

Bankies fate was sealed almost on the final whistle when the second Arbroath goal came through a penalty.

There was no lack of classy football but that didn't make for a good match. You can have all the fine players under the sun but unless they are prepared to make something of their chances, which the youthful Bankies failed to do, then you can say goodbye to success.

Clydebank had lost four matches in a row and were badly in need of a win. After this match goodness knows how low morale is ebbing at Kilbowie this week.

The nearest Clydebank came to scoring in the first half didn't come until almost half time. In an attempt to warm up the match Bobby Love tried a shot from 40 yards which went straight at the Arbroath goal, but 'keeper Hodge plucked it from the air.

Clearing the ball downfield Hodge opened up a chance for his own team, Inside-left Bruce met the ball in the centre of the field and tried a long shot at the Clydebank goal. The ball went over the bar.

When the game restarted it took Bankies left back, Danny Gray to do something constructive.

Gray and Jimmy Caskie, not playing his best, carved a way through the Arbroath defence between them and tried a shot from six yards. The keeper just managed to stop the ball at the left post.

Both teams substituted players during, the second half. Reid was sent on for Arbroath's centre, Miller, in the 67th minute. Ten minutes later Graham Brockett was sent on to the field when Dennis Ruddy, the. Clydebank centre-half was taken off.

The first goal of the match took the Clydebank defence completely by surprise. Arbroath left half, Walker, split the Clydebank wide open, ran through and tried a shot at goal. Mick McDonald tried to save but couldn't hold the ball and Walker scored on the rebound.

Six minutes later McDonald was let off the hook when Arbroath substitute Reid tried to head home a left-wing pass. McDonald didn't have the ball covered but it ran past the right post. It was just after this that Arbroath ended the match, scoring from a penalty. Brockett brought down outside-right Sellars inside the box and Referee Greenlees pointed to the spot.

McDonald made a brave attempt to save the kick, taken by Bruce. He managed to get his fingers to the ball but couldn't deviate it from its course, into the back of the net.

Poor Bankies! It seems to me they are walking around the fields of the Second Division with their eyes closed, and if they don't open them quickly and give themselves a shake, they'll lose any chance they ever had of making a go of it at Kilbowie this year.

The gate at Kilbowie was extremely poor on Saturday but I predict that it will be poorer before the season is much older unless Clydebank get the finger out!

Match report written by Oliver McGeachy (Clydebank Press)