Vale of Clyde 2
Clydebank 1
League (Super Division One)

Match Report

Clydebank's dreadful run of results continued with a narrow defeat at the hands of promotion challengers Vale of Clyde.

The Bankies had the better of the early play and should have scored after 12 minutes when a vicious Alan Jack corner caused all sorts of mayhem in the Vale of Clyde defence. McInnes, and then Kenna both should have buried the ball in the back of the net but Johnstone saved with his shin via the post.

It was a pretty tedious match for the most part, but the Bankies matched the Vale in most departments. So, it was all the more disappointing when the home side scored with their first real chance of any note. A free kick was flighted in to the box, and to a man, the Bankies defence were static. This allowed Gannon to head the ball back across the goal to Thompson, who couldn't miss.

Many of Clydebank's games in this miserable run have followed the same pattern. General play is relatively even, then a goal is lost from a nothing situation. The Bankies aren't creating enough chances to concern the opposition, so losing the first goal is proving fatal.

This match was an identikit of this. To make matters worse, the Bankies went two down when McGregor timed his run perfectly to lift the ball over the hesitant Corr.

Vale of Clyde weren't at the top of their game, but the malaise running through the Bankies side made any kind of comeback unlikely. The only chances the Bankies had were from set pieces with Lappin and Jack both forcing saves out of the Vale keeper.

In the end up the Bankies did manage a goal in the 90th minute. Brian Miller got on the end of a Docherty pass that two Vale defenders left for each other and slotted past Johnstone.

Amazingly, the Bankies could have snatched a draw in injury time when Hailstones' header was cleared off the line with the keeper beaten. The Bankies could do with a bit of luck to break this run, but it wasn't to be in this game.

The Bankies are staring the abyss in the face, but one result could be all it takes to turn it around. The bottom sides have all to come to Glenhead, so hope springs eternal that the players can give the fans something to cheer about.