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Stirling Albion 5
League (Division 2)

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Clydebank
6 - 5
 Stirling Albion

League (Division 2)
Saturday, October 24th, 1970
New Kilbowie Park. Att. 549
3:00 PM Kick-off
Goalscorers
Alan Munro  (12)
Jim Fallon (pen.)  (22)
Jimmy Caskie  (52)
Jim Fallon  (62)
Dennis Ruddy  (77)
Jimmy Caskie  (84)
Rab Duffin (19 pen)
Rab Duffin (40)
Joe Hughes (41)
Joe Hughes (49)
Matt McPhee (89)

Team Managers
Jack Steedman
 Unknown.

Starting Eleven
1 Mike McDonald
2 Davie Mitchell
3 Danny Gray
4 Dennis Ruddy
5 Jim Fallon
6 Dougie Hay
7 Peter Kane
8 Bobby Love
9 Alan Munro
10 Mike Jackson
11 Jimmy Caskie
 George Young 1
Jim Logan 2
Jim Hancock 3
Sammy Henderson 4
John Corrigan 5
Terry Christie 6
Rab Duffin 7
Matt McPhee 8
Joe Hughes 9
Kenny Dowds 10
Graeme Armstrong 11

Bench
12 Donnie Wilson
 David Grant 12

Substitutions
Donnie Wilson for Peter Kane (22)
 David Grant -> Terry Christie

Cautions
None. None.

Red Cards
None. None.
Match Officials

Alex Currie (Referee)



Match Report

Clydebank Press

Unrelenting rain and a meagre crowd of 600 hardly justified this epic 11-goal game. In conditions more suitable for water polo the teams fought out a gripping duel. Clydebank's victory being justified by their marginal superiority in controlling the erratic ball.

The home victory was marred the 20th minute when Peter Kane crashed to the ground with dislocated right shoulder.

The Bankies' formation was minus Jim Wilson and Bobby Doyle, being rested. Albion confused everyone by splashing on to the pitch wearing numbers contrary to the official line-up. This was not a cunning tactical move and in any case no advantage was gained.

With the heavens fully opened, the game got under way with immediate indications that the players were intent on defeating the conditions as well as the opposition.

The pattern of play swung to and from, the first real threat coming when Armstrong swung the ball across the home goal in the sixth minute with no initiative shown by defenders or attackers.

Young got the first of many soakings when he anticipated an accurate shot from Jimmy Caskie from the edge of the penalty area in the 10th minute. Albion were showing greater control under the treacherous conditions, deploying tight, intelligently planned build-ups.

An inspired high speed link-up by Denis Ruddy, Peter Kane, Bobby Love and Alan Munro ended in Clydebank's first and most spectacular goal, on the 12 minute mark. The Bankies inside-right was in horizontal flight when be headed the ball past a disconsolate Young.

Caskie followed this up with another header, just clearing the bar.

Clydebank seemed determined not rest up in the continuous deluge, but got a shock in the 19th minute when Duffin scored Albion's opener from the penalty spot after a disputed Hay handball.

Three busy minutes later Fallon reclaimed the initiative when Peter Kane was floored by centre-half Corrigan. Kane tell badly and was obviously in pain. He refused stretcher assistance and, holding his right shoulder, winced his way to the dressing room to the applause of the expressive but small crowd. Jim Fallon made no mistake with the second penalty within three minutes.

The interruption in play seemed to break the rhythm and a period of relative stalemate lasted for about five minutes. The elements were still opposing both sides with the ball proving unpredictable on the streaming surface.

Donnie Wilson entered the fray after Kane's clash, which later revealed a dislocated shoulder.

McPhee rounded off one of the countless end-to-end runs from Albion by hitting the post with a dangerous attempt at levelling the score, after 33 minutes.

Dougie Hay underlined his value to Clydebank a few moments later when the controversial player put the ball just past the post, with Young at full stretch.

Although Clydebank looked as steady as the rain, Albion scored twice in a minute to take the lead. Duffin stabbed his second goal home in a desperate goalmouth scramble, despite Fallon's attempts to clear. This happened in the 40th minute and 60 seconds later a concentrated attack ripped the re-grouping home defence apart, with Joe Hughes the scorer.

Albion moved straight into the offensive at the restart and the hardy Clydebank supporters must have considered a wet departure when Hughes completed a personal scoring double in the 49th minute. The three architects of the goal were right-half and captain Henderson, inside-right McPhee and Hughes, who beat McDonald with a neat, side-stepping cross from his skipper.

McDonald stood his ground admirably with Albion's rapid attacks from deep in their own half. Apparently unperturbed by their two-goal deficit, the Clydebank striking force, led by Jimmy Caskie, took the initiative and Jimmy netted when he collected the ball after Alan Munro cut across the park.

Mike Jackson urged his men into constant attack and it was Caskie and Munro who were just thwarted in their vigorous efforts after 55 minutes.

Caskie was brought down two minutes later by right-back Logan who received a warning.

The pressure paid off in the 62nd minute with a penalty decision after a visiting defender handled the ball. Fallon executed another perfect penalty and Clydebank lived again. This was after 62 minutes, still with hardly a moment's respite.

Jim Fallon was called on two minutes later for yet another penalty opportunity but held his head in anguish when he shot over the bar.

Dowds was another disappointed man when he failed to head home a cross after another full length run from Albion.

Left-back Hancock's heart was in his mouth when he nearly put the opposition into the lead while clearing from the goalmouth.

This privilege was reserved for Denis Ruddy, the burly right-half connecting with a neat flick from Alan Munro in the 77th minute. Albion replaced Christie with Grant.

With the 600 spectators simulating a capacity audience under the covers, Clydebank went further ahead after 84 minutes when Jimmy Caskie smashed the ball past Young. So Caskie and Fallon chalked up two goals each.

The clouds remained over Kilbowie Park but the inspired home team appeared to get refreshment from this, plus vocal support from the faithful few.

Undaunted by the weather and the spirit of the Bankies, McPhee pulled one goal back in the 89th minute when the Clydebank formation left one gap too many.

The game was fought out to the end with Clydebank worthwhile and happy winners. Although there were four penalties, this was essentially a hard, fast and mainly clean game.

Manager Jack Steedman later said, "It was a fantastic game, one in which defenders were constantly in jeopardy. A game of mistakes-and we made one less than Albion."

Clydebank's stars were Fallon Caskie and Munro. For Albion Duffin, Hughes and Henderson were the most consistent.

Stirling Observer

This may read like fiction-a team scoring five goals and finishing on the losing side, but it happened to Stirling Albion at Clydebank on Saturday when their fine away record this season took a knock. The sad fact in a fantastic scoring game of eleven goals at Kilbowie Park was that Albion led 4-2 at one period in the second half, then unaccountably faltered to let the home team come back and equalise and go on to win.

But what enjoyable and thrilling entertainment it was for the fans and brightened a drab day with rain pouring down and the players having a gruelling time of it on a heavy, sodden, strength-sapping pitch. Under such conditions it seems rather unfair to criticise and the players deserve thanks for their efforts. There were four penalty-kicks-three for Clydebank and one for Albion and the home team won 6-5.

This was a game Albion should not have lost. That they did was because of the greater mobility of Clydebank forwards and their speed in following up. The turning point came after Albion had taken a 4-2 lead early in the second and allowed themselves to be forced back on the defensive. A simple third goal put Clydebank's dander up and before Albion realised it they conceded a fourth goal. Clydebank missed a penalty kick before hit-and-run raids gave them a two goal lead to make the points safe with Albion adding a fifth goal he closing minutes.

Albion's defence looked vulnerable under pressure, more so when ball was played into the centre of the penalty area. Munro and Caskie, Clydebank's most dangerous forwards, were not marked closely enough. Albion forwards were too deliberate in their leading-up play. Both Duffin and Dowds faded at a crucial stage when Clydebank's wing moves started taking the ball upfield as was shown when Ruddy shot his team into the lead. Albion's substitution by bringing Davie Grant on for Christie might have more beneficial had made the move before Clydebank had gone into the lead.

The team's top players was the experience of Albion goalkeeper, George Young, who must be wondering how he came to lose so many. Hancock was the steadier back and Anderson the most consistent half-back. Corrigan found himself overworked against the twin thrusts, Munro and Caskie in the centre Position.

Albion had no outstanding player up front. Duffin started off well and became subdued. McPhee was only mediocre and Hughes headed goals as his main contribution. Dowds was clever but did not release the ball as quickly as he might have done at times. Armstrong has been seen in more penetrative form.

Clydebank stars were Fallon and the half-backs, with Munro and Caskie tops in attack.

When the Albion lined up for the off. the forward line had a strange look with McPhee wearing number 11 on his jersey, Hughes 7, Armstrong 8. and Duffin 9, although they were in their usual forward positions bearing no resemblance to the numbers.

Clydebank were early aggressive and Young made a diving save by racing from goal to throw himself at the ball before Kane could get it

The home forwards were thrustful and opened the scoring in twelve minutes.

Ruddy began the move and Kane crossed to the far post for Munro to head a beautiful goal. Young then made a fine save, turning a Caskie shot over the bar. This was followed by a Hay header which dropped just over.

Albion equalised in nineteen minutes from a penalty award. Duffin headed the ball goalwards and it struck Hay on the arm. Duffin scored from the spot. Within two minutes Clydebank had regained the lead. Kane was dashing through when he was pulled down in a tackle by Corrigan. Fallon made an expert job of the penalty. Kane was taken off with a shoulder injury and was replaced by substitute Wilson.

From this stage Albion surged into the attack. Duffin headed the equaliser and before the shouting of the Albion supporters had died, Hughes headed a cross from Armstrong into the net to put them ahead, a transformation that shook the home team, Albion led 3-2 at the interval.

Four minutes after the restart, Albion had increased their lead with a picture fourth goal. Henderson sent a long pass down the wing. McDonald left his goal but McPhee beat him for possession of the ball and swung it across from the bye-line to Hughes who headed into the empty goal. Instead of driving home their hold, Albion went into defence and Caskie netted a third goal for Clydebank in 51 minutes from a Munro pass.

Fallon levelled the score from the penalty spot in 62 minutes after an infringement in the goalmouth when the ball rebounded from the bar in a home attack. Two minutes later there was a third penalty award for the "Bankies" when Caskie was downed in the box. Up stepped Fallon to take his third spot kick with a chance to complete a unique "hat-trick" of penalty goals, but this time he blasted the ball high and wide-a contrast to his two earlier scores when he placed the ball low into the net.

Ruddy up with his right-wing, shot Clydebank ahead from a Munro pass. This was in 77 minutes, and in 84 minutes Caskie in the centre- forward position slipped the ball into the net with Young out of goal to make it six for the home team and a lead of two goals. In the dying seconds, McPhee scored Albion's fifth to end a memorable scoring game.

Sunday Post

With eleven goals and four penalties, plus incidents and excitement galore, this Second Division tussle would have done justice to any cup final.

Each side had its spell of dominance, only for the other to come roaring back. It was a pity either side had to lose, but Bankies were just marginally more effective on the day.

A brilliant right-wing move which ended with Munro head-crashing home a Love cross started the Clydebank goal rush. Two penalties, one for each side, maintained Bankies' lead.

At this point Peter Kane was taken off with a shoulder injury. Then headers by Duffin and Hughes within a minute sent Albion in at half-time ahead.

A cross by McPhee was then nodded in by Hughes, and it looked all over for Bankies. However, Caskie, from close range, and then a Fallon spot kick levelled matters.

A minute later Fallon missed with his third spot kick. But Clydebank went ahead again when Ruddy first-timed a Munro flick behind Young. Caskie made it six from a Wilson cutback, but, gallant to the end, Stirling pulled one back via McPhee in the dying seconds.



Squad Statistics (as at October 24th, 1970)

1970-71 All Time
League Cups All
Mike McDonald (GK) 11 - 6 - 47 -
Jim Fallon 11362939
Davie Mitchell 11 - 611695
Dennis Ruddy 1116 - 991
Danny Gray 11 - 5 - 65 -
Dougie Hay 926 - 1064
Bobby Love 11 - 6 - 842
Peter Kane 613 - 91
Alan Munro 117629342
Jimmy Caskie 1156410639
Mike Jackson 7 - 4 - 11 -
Donnie Wilson (sub) 8 - 52223







Recent Results

League results since Clydebank's last match
24th October 1970
Alloa Athletic3-6Arbroath
Berwick Rangers2-2East Stirlingshire
Brechin City1-1Queen of the South
Clydebank6-5Stirling Albion
Forfar Ath6-1Stenhousemuir
Hamilton Accies1-1East Fife
Partick Th1-1Dumbarton
Raith Rovers2-2Albion Rovers
Stranraer3-2Montrose

League Table (as at October 24th, 1970)

Pld W D L +/- Pts
1. East Fife 12 7 4 1 +15 18
2. Arbroath 12 7 3 2 +14 17
3. Albion Rovers 12 6 5 1 +10 17
4. Montrose 13 6 1 6 +2 13
5. Clydebank 11 6 1 4 +2 13
6. Forfar Ath 12 4 5 3 0 13
7. Partick Th 10 4 4 2 +12 12
8. Dumbarton 11 4 4 3 +6 12
9. Stranraer 11 5 2 4 +5 12
10. Alloa Athletic 11 5 2 4 +3 12
11. Queen of the South 12 4 4 4 -2 12
12. Queen's Park 11 5 2 4 -6 12
13. Raith Rovers 12 3 5 4 -7 11
14. Stirling Albion 11 3 4 4 +7 10
15. Stenhousemuir 13 3 3 7 -15 9
16. East Stirlingshire 13 1 5 7 -17 7
17. Hamilton Accies 10 2 2 6 -8 6
18. Berwick Rangers 10 2 2 6 -10 6
19. Brechin City 11 2 2 7 -11 6