Match Report
The optimism generated by Clydebank's first League victory lasted only a week as the Bankies were brought firmly back down to earth with a 4-0 defeat at Central Park.
Cowdenbeath were convincing winners and, although Clydebank started brightly enough, there could be few complaints about the final margin. Frank Russell and Tony Moy initially found some space around the home defence, but the early promise came to nothing and it was Cowdenbeath who gradually took control of the match.
The Fifers went ahead after 18 minutes when David Donaldson supplied the cross for Jim Burns to beat Sandy MacLachlan. Ten minutes later Donaldson was involved again, this time sending over a corner which Pat Henderson headed against the crossbar. Tom Clark was quickest to react and scored from the rebound to double the home side's advantage.
Any hopes of Clydebank reaching the interval and regrouping disappeared after 35 minutes. Mike Clinton sent a well-placed ball into the Bankies goalmouth and Henderson produced the cleverest finish of the afternoon, back-heeling the ball home to make it 3-0.
If Clydebank harboured any hopes of a second-half recovery, they were extinguished almost immediately. Clark was fouled shortly after the restart and, following treatment, was back in position when Clinton took the resulting free-kick. Clark rose above the defence and headed past MacLachlan for his second goal of the afternoon.
There was at least no collapse after the fourth. The Sunday Post credited Clydebank's fighting spirit even when the game was well beyond them, but there was little threat at the other end. The Bankies could move the ball effectively as far as the Cowdenbeath penalty area, only for their attacks to lose their way when a finish was required. Indeed, right-back Graham Small provided goalkeeper John Ritchie with some of his most difficult moments.
Cowdenbeath remained the more dangerous side in the closing stages. Clark was denied a hat-trick when a header struck the crossbar, while John Wark cleared another Henderson header from the goal-line.
It was a sobering afternoon for Clydebank just seven days after the celebrations which had greeted their first League victory against Brechin City. Rather than providing the platform for an immediate climb up the table, the win was followed by another heavy defeat and the Bankies remained 19th, level on five points with bottom club East Stirlingshire.
Match report written by Stuart McBay
