Clydebank 0
Stirling Albion 2
League (Division 2)

Match Report

What a sad ending to the season for the Bankies. They sent their fans home wondering if they should renew their season tickets for next season because they saw nothing on the field to tempt them back.

When Clydebank Football Club were elected back into the Scottish League, the Steedman brothers were quoted in several national newspapers as saying that within five years, Clydebank would be back in the first division.

On Monday night's performance, it's going to take another five years to win promotion. If the original schedule is to be adhered to, then sweeping changes will have to be made.

More than the four players mentioned in this year's free transfer list - Dick Madden, Graham Brockett, Tommy McGhee and John McGunnigle should be released. And the four mentioned are by no means the worst.

It's interesting to note that Tommy McGhee has been given a free transfer for the THIRD time! His name has appeared on the end of season "free" list for the past three years.

No doubt (and I mean no disrespect to Tommy) we'll see his happy face back at Kilbowie next season.

Several English and Scottish club scouts were at the game. Two Partick Thistle representatives, new manager Davie McParland and Jackie Husband were also at the match but left immediately after the final whistle.

The game started off lively enough, with Millar saving a soft header from Alan Munro under the bar, while at the other end Mike McDonald had to save at the feet of Hughes twice within three minutes.

In the 25th minute Albion right-half and captain Sammy Henderson put his team ahead when he scrambled the ball past McDonald from the edge of the penalty box.

Three minutes later Joe Hughes nearly added another, when he headed a long free-kick from Henderson into the side net, while the Clydebank defence stood and watched.

The Bankies' rearguard wasn't having one of its best nights, and the eager Stirling forwards were taking full advantage of this.

At the other end, it was the exact opposite, with the Stirling defence repelling the Clydebank forwards as oil does water.

Just before half-time, Donnie Wilson blasted the ball over the bar after it had been teed up for him by Alan Munro.

Stirling dashed any hopes the homesters had of staging a fightback, when Joes Hughes scored in the 49th minute. McPhee started the move off with a quick break down the right wing and sent in a powerful shot that McDonald could only parry, and Hughes was on the spot to tap the ball home.

Play was stopped for a few minutes after Albion 'keeper Millar had complained to the referee that kids behind his goal were throwing stones. The kids were given a ticking off and play continued.

Donnie Wilson seemed to have scored when he shot from close, but Logan stuck out a foot on the goal line and diverted the ball past.

Bobby Doyle had hard lines a few minutes later when he hit a tremendous shot just over the bar.

Stirling Albion nearly got a replica of their first goal, but this time McDonald held the winger's shot.

Clydebank were plugging away for all they were worth against the Albion, and although they managed to build up their moves very well, there was nobody to put the ball into the net.

This was their main weakness throughout the match, and it is this department they are going to have to look hard at before next season.

Match report written by Tom Malcolm (Clydebank Press)