Carluke Rovers 1
Clydebank 3
Scottish Junior Cup (2nd Round)

Match Report

Clydebank completed a routine victory over Carluke Rovers at the John Cumming Stadium to progress to the third round of the Scottish Cup. Rovers were spirited but the game panned out as much as you would have expected with Clydebank scoring their goals at the right times without ever playing at a high level. The score could have been a bit more emphatic with Carluke’s keeper making some fine saves to keep the scoreline respectable.

Bankies fan arriving at the ground were met with the bad news that Jamie Darroch will be missing for some time after suffering a training ground injury during the week and Jordan Shelvey was also absent due to personal reasons. Clydebank were still able to field a strong side with Lynass returning to the side and assistant boss Gary McMenamin making his debut in defence.

The match was fairly scrappy to begin with mainly due to the energy of the host side, but they had the misfortune to fall behind with Clydebank’s first real chance of the match. Just before the quarter hour, Chris Black hit a tremendous diagonal pass from deep in his own half that took out the Rovers defence. Kyle Munro ran on to it and knocked it past the keeper and Cammy McClair made sure by forcing over the line from close range.

Within five minutes Carluke brought the sides level due to another individual error in the Bankies defence. Matt McLean attempted to either shield the ball out for a goal kick or for his goalkeeper to collect. Whatever it was, he should just have cleared his lines, but Larkin nipped in and stole the ball and prodded it past Waters from a tight angle.

Clydebank began to make chances after this with Little heading over the bar from a good position following a cross by Kyle Munro. Then, a fine move started and finished by McClair saw several passes before Little released the winger whose strike was well blocked by the legs of McAllister.

The pressure led to the Bankies regaining the lead after 34 minutes. Lynass showed great skill on the left wing before driving a low cross into the box which was met by Black who slammed the ball into the net first time beyond the despairing dive of McAllister.

The second half was much like the first in that the opening quarter of an hour was fairly scrappy with Carluke not really able to trouble the Bankies defence and likewise Clydebank not really able to push for the killer third. The first really opening came after 67 minutes when a mis-judged header by Cassidy put Nicky Little in the clear. The lob was on with the keeper out of position, but Little did a poor job and missed the target by some considerable distance

Two minutes later the third goal came for the Bankies. Lynass started the move with a fine midfield pass out to Cammy McClair on the left wing. McClair danced by his man and sent in a great cross to the back post. Lynass had continued his run and met the ball and directed a header just inside the post.

The game died a bit of a death after this with Carluke not looking capable of getting back into the match. However, Clydebank should have added to their score particularly when Cammy McClair sent Substitute Del Hepburn clear on goal. The forward hit a low shot to the right that was brilliantly saved by McAllister’s foot.

Ultimately, the Bankies did what they had to do today and no more. They were secure at the back despite one costly error, and they made enough chances to get the three goals at the other end. Chris Black and Conor Lynass were my best players today. Black seems to have been given a bit more freedom to get forward and he looks all the better for it, and Lynass is undoubtedly a clever skilful player, but the question is whether he can turn it on consistently. Overall, a good day at the office.

Match report written by Stuart McBay