Clydebank 2
Forfar Ath 0
League (Division 2)

Match Report

The boo-boys are silent. The disgruntled fans, who gave voice to their opinions from the terracing over their team's apparent lack of ability to win previous games, swopped their boos for cheers on Saturday when the Bankies won their first home league game of the season.

Messrs. Steedman relied on the line-up which took both points from East Stirling last week. This meant Jim Fallon took the field again at right back, Davie Mitchell at left-back and Danny Gray formed the other half of the midfield duo with Hay.

Right from the kick-off both teams were very cagey on the ball, each wanting to take the points to lift themselves clear of their lowly league positions.

Clydebank, with the home advantage, took the initiative with some exciting attacks that kept the spectators on their toes. Following a corner in the fourth minute, Gray caused quite a bit of consternation among the Bankies Club members when he blasted the ball high over the bar and seemingly put it on course for the huge club windows overlooking the park. He missed.

Clydebank kept Forfar in defence, and continued their onslaught on Milne. The young 'keeper had a great match. This was only his second game for the Angus club-having been signed in midweek following a successful trial the previous Saturday. He could not be blamed for any of the goals and, in fact, kept the score down where a lesser mortal may have failed.

Alan Munro did have the ball in the net in the eighth minute but the whistle had gone for offside.

The goalkeeper was his side's saviour in the 12th minute. A flash of the old on-form Jimmy Caskie saw the winger beat two men in a mazy run down the middle of the park before cutting into the box and unleashing a tremendous shot that was going in all the way... until Milne stuck out a foot and deflected the ball wide of the target.

A shot from Peter Kane was stopped just before the line by Martin in the 17th minute, but two minutes later there was no full back to stop the ball screaming into the net from the foot of Ian Currie. The youngster got the ball in midfield, took a couple of steps forward, and let rip with a cracking left-foot shot to send the ball high into the top left corner of the net. The goalkeeper made a desperate attempt to stop the ball but not even Yashin could have stopped this one.

A shot from Forfar's Mollison had to be tipped over the bar by Mike McDonald. Interesting to note this was the goalkeeper's first serious save - time 23 minutes.

In a whirlwind of action around the Forfar goalmouth, Milne was worked overtime. He had to look lively to stop Munro scoring after Kane and Caskie had set up the chance, and a few seconds later did well to save a Hay shot after a neat head flick from Kane.

It was Kane again who brought an appreciative round of applause from the crowd when he brilliantly brought down a cross from Hay with his left foot and almost in the same movement sent in a great shot which a helpless Milne was happy to watch slide inches past.

The Forfar defence were holding out desperately but despite their efforts, Clydebank went further ahead in the 32nd minute. Fallon met a Caskie corner first time at the edge of the box with his right foot and the ball careered towards the goal. Milne managed to get down to the shot but couldn't hold it and the ever-alert Kane prodded the ball over the line.

Just before half-time, Forfar player-manager Kennedy was booked following a foul on Currie He had been dishing out a series of niggling ankle-taps and nudges all afternoon, which hadn't gone unnoticed, and the referee had no hesitation in booking him.

The second-half was only five minutes old when Mollison scorned the chance of the match. He brought down a cross from Stewart a few feet from the goal-line but, in his haste to get the ball in the net, sacrificed his sense of direction and the ball went past the post.

Clydebank still dominated the play and then Forfar resorted to using an off-side trap-much to the annoyance of players and spectators. Although the game finished with no more goals being scored, the fans were given plenty of excitement for their money.

The form of young Currie must have gladdened the hearts of the Bankies' management-not to mention him becoming the pin-up of several of the young female fraternity seen on the terracing each week.

If Bankies can keep this form they should manage to creep away from the bottom half of the league and have both points and fans rolling into Kilbowie.