Hurlford United 0
Clydebank 0
League (West Region Premiership)

Match Report

Clydebank and Hurlford fought out a goalless draw at Blair Park owing in no small part to the howling wind that persisted from start to finish. No one could complain about the outcome as both sides struggled to overcome the conditions with goal kicks barely leaving the penalty box, and overhit passes carrying out of play constantly.

The Bankies made a couple of changes to the starting line-up with Paul Byrne returning at left back for the injured Andy Paterson, and Cammy McClair in favour of Craig Holmes presumably for his chasing abilities.

The match had very few clear cut scoring opportunities, and the Bankies will be disappointed that they did not do better in the first half with the gale at their backs. Granted, the game was mainly played in the Hurlford half of the pitch but it was a day for the defenders who mopped up the myriad of hopeful punts forward.

It took seventeen minutes for the first real shot at goal and it came from the hosts. The ball switched to the right wing for the over lapping Adam Hodge, and he struck it diagonally across the goal only to miss by around a foot.

The midway point brought a flurry of chances at both ends. Bailey managed to measure a forward ball without it sailing out of play. Dunlop tried to intercept but headed the ball into his own penalty box. Cammy McClair was right on it but Murchie raced from his goal and managed to block the shot.

A minute Later and Marc McKenzie had an excellent effort on goal after being played in by namesake Paul, but again it was off target though Marc Waters was diving full length just in case.

Soon after, and Kyle Munro was the first to test the keeper from distance when he cut in from the left hand side and unleashed a powerful left footed drive, but Murchie held the ball well.

The best chance in this period fell to Hurlford when a cross from the right hand side bypassed everyone except Morrison at the far post, however with no one around him he made a bad connection on the ball and it snuck past the post with Waters beaten.

Hurlford were more than happy to get to the break on level terms knowing they would have the bulk of the play in the second half due to the ever strengthening wind. However, much like the first half the homesters found it difficult to get the weight of pass correct and the Bankies defence coped ably.

The match was played almost exclusively in the Bankies half of the field but up until the midway point all Hurlford had managed was two long distance efforts from McKenzie. The first of which was the better as the shot sailed not too far off target, but the second was thrashed wildly over the crossbar.

The Bankies did well to work themselves into the match in the last twenty minutes of the game with Munro and Millar prominent as the play was switched down the home end. There were several last ditch challenges to prevent the Bankies getting through on a one-on-one situation.

With ten minutes remaining the Bankies had two chances to grab the lead. Firstly Aaron Millar was fouled in the corner following a good run. Kyle Munro hammered in the free kick, and Matt McLean did well to duck low to get his head on the ball but he directed it just over the bar.

Two minutes later, Byrne and Little linked up to play in Millar down the left hand channel. He held off Robertson and headed for goal. Unfortunately, the big striker probably took one touch too many giving himself a difficult angle to score from. The shot was on target but Murchie was down well to block with his shins.

Nicky Little, who was quiet for the most part also managed a shot from outside the box with two minutes left. Unfortunately, his effort deflected off a defender and that took the sting out of the ball, though Murchie still had to dive to his left to save.

Hurlford rallied at the death, forcing a few corners and the ref somehow found five and a half minutes of stoppage time to make matters worse. The Bankies defence held on without too much alarm.

One of those games where you have to praise both sets of players for their efforts in difficult conditions. The Bankies would probably have been happy to pick up a point before the game started so all in all a decent result. Next week the Bankies host Benburb who have fallen into the relegation zone this week, so they are likely to face a motivated side. Clydebank have slipped into the bottom half of the table despite only losing one of their last six league matches so there is plenty to play for with a tough run of fixtures to end the season.

Match report written by Stuart McBay