Dumbarton 2
Clydebank 0
Scottish Cup (2nd Preliminary Round)

Match Report

Bankies' high hopes of future 'cup' glory was shattered here on Saturday in tricky conditions when newly signed Roy McCormick, the big Dumbarton centre-forward, just bought from Yoker Athletic, scored an early goal in the 17th minute of the game.

Bankies were not really put out by this and continued to command the game, but they just could not find the net. Dumbarton played a purely defensive role for most of the game but when Hugh McMahon got their second goal in 35 minutes they came out of their shell and began to bombard the Bankies goal.

Ground conditions were terrible. Although the ground looked alright it was very slippery indeed and one felt that the players would have been better off with ice skates on their feet.

Dumbarton took command in the second half and Bankies' keeper Sandy McLachlan, a Dumbarton lad himself, was kept very busy. Full marks must go to the Clydebank defence who, although they had some lucky escapes, managed to keep McCormick and Co at bay. The Dumbarton forwards had some incredible misses by the time the final whistle blew but they were always a constant threat.

The Clydebank forwards were absolutely played out of the game by a strong Sons defence, and they could do nothing to penetrate it.

The only glimmer of hope for Bankies seemed to come from the left wing where Willie McCallum and Tony Moy did their utmost to break through and many a time were only a hairsbreadth away from scoring.

The game was highly entertaining and the crowd of nearly 5,000 showed great appreciation at the efforts of both teams.

Bankies' number 8 man, Eddie Jenkins, showed some really fine touches and was the only man in the team who could start a good move but, alas, his efforts were defeated by the same good Dumbarton defence work. Eddie was all over the place looking for the ball and, on many occasions, redeemed the Bankies defence.

The attendance at the match was by far the biggest of all the cup ties played that day.

Now that they are out of the cup Bankies must concentrate on the league and try and pull themselves up from the bottom.

They face tough opposition to- morrow in league leaders Greenock Morton at Kilbowie Park. Bankies will find it hard to hold this promotion-chasing side from across the water who look definitely set for a place in the first division next season.

Match report written by Mark Cook (Clydebank Press)