Clydebank 1
Berwick Rangers 1
League (Division 2)

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Clydebank
1 - 1
 Berwick Rangers

League (Division 2)
Saturday, November 22nd, 1969
New Kilbowie Park. Att. 419
3:00 PM Kick-off
Goalscorers
Alan Munro  (18)
(Assist Gerry O'Brien)
 		Jock Richardson (36)

Team Managers
Jack Steedman
 Unknown.

Starting Eleven
1 Mike McDonald
2 Paul McMillan
3 Davie Mitchell
4 Dennis Ruddy
5 Jim Fallon
6 Dougie Hay
7 Gerry O'Brien
8 Bobby Love
9 Tommy McGhee
10 Alan Munro
11 Jimmy Caskie
 Willie Wilson 1
Davie Paterson 2
Richaed Haig 3
Ian Gilchrist 4
Ben McCabe 5
John Keith 6
Johnny Hamilton 7
Harry Melrose 8
Jock Richardson 9
Bobby Jones 10
Kenny Dowds 11

Bench
12 Graeme Brockett
 Eddie Buchanan 12

Substitutions
Graeme Brockett for Bobby Love
 None.

Cautions
None. None.

Red Cards
None. None.
Match Officials

J McRoberts (Referee)



Match Report

Clydebank Press

After watching Clydebank play Berwick on Saturday, if perchance you had survived the icy wind and driving rain and you hadn't been whisked off to the Western Infirmary suffering from frostbite, you would probably agree that they were the livelier team.

In fact, had it not been for three goal-line clearances by left back Haig the homesters would have won handsomely.

If you didn't know any better you might even have thought that Clydebank, and not Berwick, were second top in the Second Division. Whichever way you look at it, this draw was an excellent result for the local team.

Clydebank were bugged with a couple of disappointments before the match. Danny Gray, the young ex-Chelsea player, was missing from his regular right-back spot, suffering from flu, and Tommy McGhee, although playing, only passed a pre-match check-up, on account of a badly twisted ankle.

The pitch was heavy and greasy, the wind was exceptionally strong and the rain was coming down in sheets. The Clydebank players must have felt pretty miserable running out of the dressing rooms.

I don't suppose their first glimpse of the comparatively gigantic Berwick team helped any, but they soldiered on and won through.

Berwick started well, holding their feet better than the lighter Clydebank side, but the wee lads pulled well together and it wasn't long before they were scaring the living daylights out of the Berwick defence.

Mind you, the visitors knew their stuff and they were not exactly trembling with fear nor rooted to the spot. On the break, when they weren't sliding around on their backsides, they looked potentially very dangerous.

They kept the Clydebank backs McMillan and Mitchell more than busy but they fell down badly in front of goal.

Sadly, the weather did anything but help the tactics on the Clydebank wings. Wingers O'Brien and Caskie had great difficulty in keeping their feet, on account of their lack of weight.

The Berwick forwards knew this, and took full advantage of the situation.

When Gerry O'Brian wasn't trying to keep his head above the flood waters he was playing a very acceptable and constructive match. Much of the credit for Clydebank's goal must go to him.

Flighting .the ball in from the right wing, he made the perfect pass to Alan Munro, playing inside-left, who had only to tap the ball past 'keeper Wilson.

This goal was typical of the breaks made by the home team in the first half. Their off-the-ball positioning was uncannily accurate, but all too often that very real bogey, the rain-sodden pitch, and a solid Berwick defence spoiled their chances.

Berwick had everything to play for, considering their position in the league table, but they would have looked better, positioning-wise, in attack

Time and time again the halfbacks set up opportunities for the visiting forwards, but they could not grasp their chances,

Centre-forward Richardson was especially bright looking, his forwards revolving around him. It was through him that the equaliser came in 36 minutes.

Meeting a Gilchrist cross in the midst of a melee of Clydebank defenders, he calmly tapped the ball into the back of the home team's net.

Clydebank had the larger slice of the cake as far as attacking was concerned in the second half, and the Berwick players were lucky, on perhaps too many occasions, not to see the ball in the back of their net.

Even at this, as was expected of them, Berwick continued to put on a hard-fought show. The final result was in doubt until the referee blew the full-time whistle.

Berwick Advertiser

Skipper Gordon Haig played a captain's role in saving a precious point for Berwick Rangers on rain-swept Kilbowie Park on Saturday. Twice in the second half he was on the goal-line to make splendid clearances as the Clydebank youngsters hammered away for the winner.

In conditions which were all against football of any description. the 22 players put up a thrilling show and the sparse crowd appreciated their efforts.

Understandably. with the pitch transformed into a sea of mud, Berwick's usual quick pass-and-run style did not come off but in spite of that they played with a great deal of spirit and determination.

Clydebank, as everyone expected, had the edge in such stamina-sapping conditions and their youngsters ran and ran until they almost dropped from exhaustion. But at the end of it all Rangers, relying on that experience which could yet prove valuable in the promotion race, came away with the point for which they were hoping.

For much of the second half, as the wind and rain battered into their faces. Rangers had to fight a rear-guard action but they did it confidently and no praise can be too high for the way the defence stuck to its task. Several times clearances were blown right back in their faces.

Haig, for his goal-line clearances alone, played a great part and so did Paterson, Keith and Gilchrist. McCabe looks to be approaching his best form and he was quick into the tackle as Clydebank tried to plough their way through the muddy midfield. Melrose dropped back to act as an extra defender for much of the game and he, too, showed the value of perfect timing, in going into a tackle. Behind them. Wilson handled the greasy ball with great assurance.

It was not a day for the forwards, and the lighter Rangers men were frequently bundled off the ball by the all-action Bankies. But, there was menace almost every time Dowds and Hamilton got possession and it was their ability to break quickly and get into threatening positions which forced Clydebank to keep most of their defenders back at a time when all-out attack might have paid off.

Clydebank have now gone seven games without defeat, and on this evidence they are set for a steady climb up the table. They play with plenty of speed and fire, and their youngsters are gradually blending into a formidable side. Berwick can be happy with a point from Kilbowie, especially on such a day as Saturday.

Love, Munro and Caskie were three hard working forwards, and in a strong defence Fallon, Mitchell and Ruddy stood out while McDonald, like Wilson, showed excellent form on an afternoon which could have been a nightmare for goalkeepers.

As the ball skidded, slithered and occasionally came to a dead stop. mistakes were frequent but the players on both sides kept at it and in the first half Berwick's superior method looked as though it might tip the scales.

They were looking the better side, and both Melrose and Dowds had forced McDonald to make good saves when the Bankies struck with a goal. Munro netted it, taking advantage of a mix-up in the Rangers defence as an O'Brien cross came over.

For 10 minutes, the Bankies stormed in and Wilson made a magnificent save at full stretch from Caskie.

Then the Rangers settled again, and after Hamilton had seen a fast, low shot go inches wide they got back on terms with a well-taken goal by leading scorer Jock Richardson. He netted after a Gilchrist cross had eluded the home defenders.

Later both Richardson and Dowds missed possible chances of snatching a winner slipping on the wet turf as they moved into position. But in the second half it was Clydebank's speedy young forwards who took the eye with their strong running and powerful shooting. Haig's ability to be covering up on the goal-line twice saved the Rangers and Wilson also did well to stop shots from Mitchell and Caskie which might have beaten less accomplished keepers.

Sunday Post

Promotion chasers Berwick came to Kilbowie with the hope of grabbing another two points to keep them up with the leaders, but in the end they must have been thankful they got away with one.

For the young Clydebank lads were by far the likelier side. Particularly second half, when they had the Berwick defence under constant pressure.

In fact, had it not been for three goal-line clearances by left back Haig the homesters would have won handsomely.

Their forwards were much more direct, and posed problems aplenty for Rangers. But the visitors' back six stuck manfully to their task.

The game was played in a constant downpour, and with conditions difficult, it was no surprise that both goals were the results of defensive slips.

Clydebank went ahead when Munro prodded home an O'Brien cross which the Berwick defence completely missed. Richardson got the equaliser for Berwick when he pushed the ball past keeper McDonald after the Bankies defence had misjudged a Gilchrist cross.

Sunday Mail

Berwick were a bit lucky to leave Kilbowie with a point yesterday after surviving a last-gasp onslaught in which they came so close to defeat.

Clydebank's goal in 18 minutes came against the run of play Berwick were attacking when suddenly the ball went to the other end. O'Brien crossed and Munro easily ran the ball into the net.

In 36 minutes Berwick equalised. Centre forward Richardson beat the keeper to a Gilchrist lob to score.

Clydebank turned on the pressure minutes from time and left back Haig almost scored through his own goal when he tried to clear an O'Brien lob.

Love, Clydebank's inside right, went off with a leg injury and Brockett replaced him.



Squad Statistics (as at November 22nd, 1969)

1969-70 All Time
League Cups All
Mike McDonald (GK) 10 - 1 - 12 -
Davie Mitchell 14 - 6 - 1294
Jim Fallon 12 - 61533
Paul McMillan 7 - 1 - 314
Dennis Ruddy 17 - 2 - 59 -
Bobby Love 16 - 5 - 461
Tommy McGhee 1256111318
Dougie Hay 1216 - 682
Alan Munro 164655424
Gerry O'Brien 1726 - 654
Jimmy Caskie 1710626625
Graeme Brockett (sub) 7 - 0 - 22 -







Recent Results

League results since Clydebank's last match
22nd November 1969
Arbroath3-1Albion Rovers
Clydebank1-1Berwick Rangers
East Stirlingshire0-1Stirling Albion
Hamilton Accies2-0Brechin City
Montrose0-2Dumbarton
Queen's Park0-3Queen of South
Stenhousemuir2-0East Fife
Stranraer1-3Forfar Ath

League Table (as at November 22nd, 1969)

Pld W D L +/- Pts
1. Cowdenbeath 16 10 4 2 +18 24
2. Arbroath 17 11 1 5 +23 23
3. Berwick Rangers 16 10 3 3 +23 23
4. Stirling Albion 17 8 7 2 +18 23
5. Alloa Athletic 17 10 2 5 +14 22
6. Dumbarton 17 9 3 5 +13 21
7. Falkirk 14 9 2 3 +17 20
8. Queen of South 16 8 4 4 +6 20
9. East Fife 17 8 1 8 +2 17
10. Brechin City 15 6 3 6 -5 15
11. Queen's Park 17 6 3 8 -8 15
12. Montrose 17 5 4 8 -5 14
13. Clydebank 17 5 4 8 -14 14
14. East Stirlingshire 16 4 4 8 -10 12
15. Hamilton Accies 17 4 4 9 -11 12
16. Forfar Ath 17 5 1 11 -16 11
17. Albion Rovers 17 3 4 10 -14 10
18. Stranraer 17 4 2 11 -16 10
19. Stenhousemuir 17 3 2 12 -35 8