Forfar Ath 2
Clydebank 1
League Cup (Group 9)


Forfar Ath 

2 - 1

Clydebank

League Cup (Group 9)
Wednesday, August 17th, 1966
Station Park. Att. 649
6:45 PM Kick-off


Goalscorers
Archie Knox (14)
Ian Wyles (60)
John Cummings (12)
(Assist Tommy McGhee)

Team Managers
Doug Newlands Jack Steedman

Starting Eleven
1 Norman Ritchie
2 Alistair Carrie
3 Gordon Malcolm
4 Archie Knox
5 John McNell
6 John Fyfe
7 Ian Wyles
8 Bobby Buchan
9 John Park
10 George Potter
11 Tommy Mackle
Ronnie Wilson 1
Graham Small 2
John McGill 3
Archie Rankin 4
Donald McDonald 5
Willie Wallace 6
Joe Rankin 7
Tommy McGhee 8
Willie McCallum 9
John Cummings 10
Alex Stewart 11

Bench
None. Ian Russell 12

Substitutions
None. Ian Russell for Joe Rankin (59)

Cautions
None. None.

Red Cards
None. None.

Match Officials

AFJ Webster (Referee)





Match Report


Clydebank’s first midweek test of the season ended in disappointment at Station Park, where hosts Forfar Athletic claimed a narrow but deserved 2–1 victory in the second League Cup group fixture.

The Loons were on the front foot for much of the evening, their lively play and sharp movement in the final third giving the Bankies defence plenty to think about. Forfar’s 4-3-3 setup proved flexible and effective, with Knox, Buchan and Potter interchanging cleverly in midfield and supporting the attack with regularity.

Clydebank, by contrast, stuck to the same 4-2-4 shape that had served them well in the opening win over East Stirlingshire, but they found chances harder to come by here. Despite that, it was the visitors who took a surprise lead midway through the first half. A high lob eluded Forfar’s Fyfe at the back, and when McGill drove in a low cross from the right, inside-forward Tommy Cummings bundled the ball home at close range under pressure from McNeill.

However, the lead was short-lived. Just minutes later, Forfar levelled when Knox gathered a loose ball and fired a fine shot through a ruck of players and high into the net, giving Wilson no chance.

The remainder of the first half saw the home side dominate, with Clydebank mostly pinned back. Things threatened to boil over when Bankies full-back McDonald was booked for a heavy challenge on Wyles, who limped for some time afterward. The referee, to his credit, kept control of the game well thereafter.

After the break, Clydebank began with renewed purpose and were unlucky not to go back in front when Willie McCallum’s header struck the post following good work from Cummings. Substitute Russell replaced Joe Rankin on the hour mark, but barely a minute later Forfar grabbed what would prove to be the winner. A high delivery from Mackle to the far post was met brilliantly by Wyles, who rose between two defenders and sent a powerful header into the far corner.

The Loons pressed for a third, and it took a goal-line clearance from McGill to deny Park’s header late on. Despite some late Clydebank pressure, there was no way back for the visitors.

Although beaten, Clydebank showed glimpses of promise, with goalkeeper Ronnie Wilson again impressing, and the likes of Cummings and McCallum providing moments of quality in attack. It was a reminder, however, that adapting to the rigours of senior football would be a steady process.

Forfar, meanwhile, looked well-drilled and organised. With continued performances like this, they could yet make a serious impression on Group 9.

Match report written by Stuart McBay



Squad Statistics (as at August 17th, 1966)


1966-67 All Time
League Cups All
Ronnie Wilson (GK) 0 - 2 - 15 -
Archie Rankin 0 - 2 - 21 -
John Cummings 0 - 2121
John McGill 0 - 2 - 201
Donald McDonald 0 - 2 - 2 -
Graham Small 0 - 2 - 122
Tommy McGhee 0 - 2 - 111
Willie McCallum 0 - 2121
Willie Wallace 0 - 1 - 1 -
Joe Rankin 0 - 21143
Alex Stewart 0 - 2 - 4 -
Ian Russell (sub) 0 - 1 - 1 -







Recent Results


League results since Clydebank's last match
None.

League Table (as at August 17th, 1966)


Pld W D L +/- Pts

No games played.