Maryhill 1
Clydebank 3
Sectional League Cup

Match Report

Clydebank kicked off the competitive season with a short journey to Maryhill in the Sectional League Cup this afternoon, and did not disappoint their fans as they picked up all three points in a comfortable 3-1 victory. This was the Bankies 6th consecutive victory over the Hill, who didn’t help themselves by ending the match with only 9 men on the park.

Budgie McGhie has made big changes over the short summer break as he handed five of his new signings their debut, with a further new boy taking his bow from the substitutes bench in the second half. Maryhill, on the other hand have a side stuffed with former Bankies with no fewer than seven familiar faces taking part at some stage of the match.

Both sides started the match at a high tempo at a sun drenched Lochburn Park with the Bankies making an opening in the first minute. A fantastic overlapping run and cross by Scott Highlands was met by Stevie Dymock at the back post, but Tiropoulos saved comfortably. Quickly down the other end, Ryan Scobie's shot was collected easily by Gonet after a deflection took the sting out of the shot. The Bankies kept up the pace and Tiropoulos had to be alert to stop a McPherson header following a cross from Nicky Cairney. As the game settled down in the middle of the park, there was not a lot to choose between the sides, but Clydebank perhaps had the keener attack. After 10 minutes a Gary Lynn free kick was headed wide by Dymock who was stretching to reach the ball. Then, Dymock again passed up his best chance so far when he blasted the ball over the bar from ten yards after doing the hard part of controlling a cross ball on his chest to make the opening in the first place.

Maryhill were still not to be discounted, as Russell tried an ambitious overhead kick that sailed well over the bar. Dymock, who seemed to be on the end of all Clydebank's chances was not to far away with a looping header from the edge of the box that Tiropoulos had to watch all the way to make sure it fell on the right side of the bar.

With the first half hour out of the way, Maryhill began to belie the fact that they are two divisions below the Bankies. A blocked effort ricocheted to Callender who looked certain to score, but for a tremendous stop by Gonet who dived to his left to turn the ball away. Then, a smart through ball on the left gave Russell a clear run in on goal. This time Gonet was beaten by the shot, but the upright came to the Bankies rescue as the ball bounced away to safety. Clydebank regained their composure in the run up to the break and efforts by Highlands and Lynn both forced saves from Tiropoulos, albeit easy ones. The break gave the Bankies a chance to regroup and they began the second period in a more positive fashion. After Tiropoulos pushed out a fine free kick effort from McPherson for a corner, Moffat worked a neat one-two with Martin, but unfortunately sent the return pass high over the bar.

MacKinnon, who had only shown glimpses of his capabilities in the first half, demonstrated the devastating power he possesses as he surged through the Maryhill defence after 52 minutes. He laid the ball off to Dymock, who perhaps lacking confidence from his first half misses opted not to shoot. He tried to cross but it was blocked. He did get a second bite at the cherry and he did shoot this time, but the opening was less favourable and he sent the ball well past the goal. Just as Maryhill thought, they had weathered the storm their world collapsed around them. With 58 minutes on the clock, substitute Paul Allum released Nicky Cairney with his first touch of the ball. The Bankies midfielder still had all his work in front of him, but he left two defenders in his wake on the touchline as he dragged the ball back to Stevie Dymock. This time the Bankies front man wiped away his earlier misses as he absolutely thundered the ball into the net to give the visitors a deserved lead.

Four minutes later, and Dymock doubled his and the Bankies tally. Mark Hailstones controlled a deep cross to the back post quite superbly, and with a little look up he floated the ball to the back post where Dymock was perfectly placed to guide the ball home. After that, the supporters were treated to a quite surreal moment as part of the Lochburn pitch collapsed leaving a nice six inch deep hole that you could get your whole foot into. Four minutes elapsed before the hole was filled and play could resume.

The Bankies were back in business quickly and number three came in quite spectacular style. The ball sat up nicely for MacKinnon around 25 yards out, and taking it first time he unleashed an unstoppable thunderbolt that crashed into the top corner. This was a goal that would have graced any game, and will be hard to beat for goal of the season.

With the game effectively lost, Maryhill also lost their discipline a little bit and Scott Banks was first to see red when he cynically took out Nikky Cairney on the right hand touchline earning himself his second yellow card. The home side took this on the chin and actually enjoyed their best spell of play in the match. Their endeavour was rewarded after 78 minutes when one of the ex-Bankies, Paul McWhirter, did well to hold off two Clydebank defenders before forcing the ball past the advancing Gonet to pull a goal back.

Any hopes of a comeback were dashed with four minutes remaining when the Hill were reduced to 9 men when Maxwell foolishly tripped a Bankies player leaving the ref no option but to show the former Bankie a second yellow card. Clydebank seem to have a phobia in recent times playing against teams with reduced numbers, and this was no different as the defence stood static as Maryhill chipped the ball into the box. Russell read it well and was bundled to the ground by Gonet leading to an inevitable spot kick. Russell took the penalty himself, but in an afternoon that had gone progressively downhill for the home side, Gonet threw himself to his right hand side to push the ball away.

This was the last action, and the Bankies can be relatively happy with their day’s work. Many of the new guys look to be fitting in well and they will be hoping to continue with this early opportunity to impress manager Budgie McGhie by Qualifying from the Sectional group for the first time in three years.

Match report written by Stuart McBay