Clydebank 8
Yoker Athletic 1
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Match Report

A healthy crowd turned out at Holm Park to watch Clydebank and Yoker open the newly redeveloped ground in the first pre-season match for both sides. The new artificial surface looked fantastic in the glorious sunshine, and the surroundings at Holm Park have never looked this good in a long time thanks to the volunteers who have worked tirelessly in the close season to make the stadium a welcoming place to visit.

The players, the Bankies anyway, enjoyed their first action on the new surface as they demolished poor Yoker by eight goals to one. Kieran McAnespie has retained the services of almost all of last year’s squad and has added only three new signings so far. There were some new faces on the pitch today as trialists and a couple of them look to be worth another look.

It is doubtful if McAnespie will have learned anything useful from today’s match as there was such a huge gulf between the sides. Yoker have been a constant thorn in Clydebank’s side over the years but in recent times this has diminished somewhat. If anything it was only good for getting game time into the player’s legs.

The game was fairly competitive early on, but as soon as the Bankies started to make inroads in the Yoker defence the signs were ominous. The first goal came after 13 minutes when AM waltzed his way through the Yoker defence, beat the goalkeeper and literally walked the ball into the net.

The second was as clean a strike as you are likely to see from MB just four minutes later. Paul Byrne knocked the ball across the edge of the penalty area. The trialist steadied himself and smacked the ball with the outside of his right boot and sent it crashing past McLaren.

Paul Byrne got on the scoresheet himself after half an hour when he rattled the ball home from eight yards, and he was joined by AM just before the interval as the big striker added his second, It could have been worse for Yoker as the post denied AM his hat trick with the goalkeeper well beaten.

Yoker were not about to be let off the hook in the second period as the Bankies added a further two goals in the first six minutes of the half. A delightful team goal involving Byrne and Little saw the latter square the ball for AM to complete his hat trick from close range. Little then put the ball in the net himself from the penalty spot following a clear foul on MB in the box.

Clydebank made five changes on the hour, and Yoker bizarrely started bringing players back on who had been substituted earlier. This took the sting out of the game as it lulled for the first time, However, the Bankies would run up the score to 8 with two quick fire goals in the 76th and 77th minute. Jordan Shelvey scored possibly the goal of the game as he sent a twenty five yarder into the top corner, and Cammy McClair scored a somewhat easier goal just after with a simple tap in.

Yoker earned a goal near the end when Thomson took advantage of an ill advised run off his goal line by Marc Waters. It could only have been boredom or sun stroke that caused him to be so reckless. Regardless, Thomson had an easy job to stroke the ball into the empty net from 20 yards.

The two sides meet again in just over a fortnight’s time in the Sectional League Cup. Yoker should have improved a bit by then so it would be dangerous to think it will be quite so easy. Today was a welcome return to the Bankies now permanent home and the club have given themselves a great platform to build from, both on and off the field

Match report written by Stuart McBay