Clydebank 1
Montrose 2
League (Division 2)

Match Report

FOR the umpteenth time this season, Bankies followed up a mediocre first half performance with an all-out but fruitless assault on the visitors' goal in the second-half. Two down at the interval to Montrose, they came out for the second-half with a new-found flair, but could only pull back one goal. Until a solution is found to this first-half mediocrity, Bankies could find themselves rock-bottom of the league,

And the lack of fight in their first halves might not only cost them points—it could also cost them gate money. There are always a few neutral” at every game who, no doubt, will find alternative ways of spending their Saturday afternoons.

But what about the Bankie fanatics? They won't desert the team entirely, but I am sure more than one of them has thought about coming into the match during the second-half when the gates are opened - to see the best part of the game for nothing.

Yet, to be fair, Bankies looked quite lively in the opening minutes. They pinned second-top team Montrose into their own half but could make no impression on the Angus team's toll defence.

Up front, Montrose relied on the huge Livingstone and Young. These two caused the Bankies' centre-backs, Jim Fallon and Norrie Hall (playing in place of the rested Dennis Ruddy) no end to trouble in the air.

Treacherous underfoot conditions made life even more difficult for both teams.

Livingstone put the visitors ahead in the 29th minute with a goal all against the run of play. A toe-ended pass from Young on the bye-line evaded Mike McDonald and Livingstone was left with the ball at his feet and the goal at his mercy.

Five minutes later, Danny Gray headed a corner-kick off the line after McDonald had committed himself to going for the ball.

Earlier, the 'keeper was his side's hero when he blocked a shot from Montrose player-manager Stuart, when a quick break by the left-half caught the Bankies napping.

Montrose went further ahead two minutes from the interval. Jim Fallon mis-kicked a Stuart free-kick in the box and Barr ran on to head past an astonished McDonald.

Early second-half pressure from the Bankies was rewarded when Alan Munro reduced the visitors' lead. Standing just inside the box, he lashed a faulty clearance from the defence into the net first-time with his left foot.

Bankies stepped up the pressure and Munro headed a neat overhead kick from Kane goalward but it went straight to Gollan. Seconds later, a first-time shot from Graham McFarlane suffered the same fate.

The visitors replied to this with a quick break from Young. The centre seemed certain to score as he left the defence behind, but again McDonald saved the day when he came of his line to block the shot.