Match Report
Clydebank's young side produced one of the club's finest results of the season when they knocked Arbroath out of the Scottish Cup at Gayfield.
Having already shocked promotion-chasing Falkirk in league action earlier in the month, the Bankies repeated the feat against another side harbouring ambitions of a return to the First Division. The achievement was all the more impressive given that Clydebank's line-up contained seven teenagers.
Playing into a strong easterly wind and driving rain in the first half, the Bankies showed no sign of being overawed by either the conditions or their more experienced opponents. Instead, they settled quickly and played some attractive football, using the width of the pitch to good effect through Gerry O'Brien and Tommy Caskie.
Despite Clydebank's positive start, it was Arbroath who opened the scoring after 31 minutes. Sellars delivered a cross from the wing and Cant controlled the ball before driving it beyond McDonald.
The goal gave the Maroons a half-time lead, but it scarcely reflected the balance of play. Clydebank had already created several openings, with O'Brien, McGhee and Caskie all going close, while Munro had forced Hodge into a fine save after breaking through the home defence.
The visitors resumed on the attack after the interval and immediately began asking questions of the Arbroath defence. O'Brien was unlucky when a fierce effort struck the metal net support, while Hodge was required to make an excellent save from a powerful Caskie drive moments later.
As the second half wore on, Clydebank's superiority became increasingly evident. The Clydebank Press noted that the Bankies "kept the ball on the deck and gave a display of crisp, speedy and attacking football", while Arbroath struggled to reproduce the form that had brought them recent success.
The equaliser finally arrived after 70 minutes and it was a goal worthy of the occasion. Collecting a pass from O'Brien, Caskie unleashed a tremendous shot from around 35 yards which flew past Hodge before the goalkeeper could react.
Four minutes later the turnaround was complete. Love gained possession and drove in a shot which Hodge failed to hold, the ball crossing the line to put Clydebank ahead.
The home side attempted to force their way back into the tie and created a frantic spell in front of goal late on. On two occasions the ball was cleared from the Clydebank goal-line, while Walker went close as Arbroath threw everything forward in search of an equaliser.
However, the Bankies held firm to secure a deserved victory and a place in the second round.
Arbroath's supporters made their feelings known during a disappointing second-half display from the home side, with many heading for the exits before the final whistle. By contrast, Clydebank's youngsters left Gayfield having earned widespread praise. The Sunday Mail described their performance as "an object lesson in the finer arts of the game", while the Arbroath Herald acknowledged that the visitors had "no inferiority complex" and fully merited their victory.
The reward for Clydebank was a glamour second-round tie away to Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Match report written by Stuart McBay
