Clydebank 6
Celtic 'B' 2
Friendly

Match Report

Clydebank stunned the Celtic faithful with a dominant 6-2 victory in a pulsating encounter at Kilbowie Park. This result raises a crucial question for the Bankies' supporters: where has this fighting spirit been all season?

From the opening whistle, Clydebank displayed a newfound intensity. They attacked with purpose and power, leaving no room for doubt that this was more than just a friendly match. In the ninth minute, Alan Munro rose above the Celtic defence to head home a Mitchell cross, exploiting their reliance on overlapping fullbacks.

Celtic responded swiftly. Jimmy Quinn, showcasing breath-taking pace, channelled his inner Jimmy McGrory with a diving header that powered past Madden in the 15th minute. However, the Bankies refused to be rattled. Just a minute later, Bobby Wraith spilled a Brian Sheerin effort, allowing Ian Hawkshaw to pounce and slam the ball home.

Clydebank continued to press forward, but only one of their numerous attempts truly tested Wraith. Hawkshaw's shot was well-placed, but the young goalkeeper held firm. The revitalised Munro, sporting a fresh haircut, doubled the lead in the 33rd minute. A scramble between Wraith and Murray in the goalmouth presented Munro with a golden opportunity from a yard out, and he made no mistake.

Celtic threatened a comeback just before half-time. Quinn and Hemphill squandered clear chances, and Dick Madden, playing against his former club, pulled off a sensational save to deny George Connelly. Pat McMahon added to the drama by rattling the woodwork with a long-range effort.

However, any hopes of a Celtic comeback were dashed in the closing minutes of the first half. A tussle between David Cattenach and a Clydebank defender culminated in a penalty awarded to the Bankies. McGhee coolly converted from the spot, sending Celtic into the break 4-1 down.

The second half began with a bang. Cattenach had a chance to atone for his earlier indiscretion, but Madden produced another superb save to deny his penalty attempt. This only emboldened Clydebank. McGhee rounded Wraith and slotted the ball into the net, further extending the Bankies' lead.

Celtic continued to struggle, falling victim to repeated offside traps. They desperately searched for a goal, but Connelly's wild effort from distance summed up their frustration. A sublime pass from Murray found Willie O'Neill in space, but his shot lacked the power to trouble Madden.

Celtic did manage a consolation goal in the 72nd minute through McMahon's header. However, their joy was short-lived as Munro completed his hat-trick three minutes later. A headed clearance from Murray fell perfectly for the Clydebank forward, who slammed the ball home with aplomb.

Lou Macari fluffed his chances to reduce the deficit in the closing minutes, and the final whistle blew on a remarkable victory for Clydebank.

While Connelly and O'Neill impressed for Celtic, their defence struggled to contain the potent Clydebank attack spearheaded by Hawkshaw, Sheerin, and Munro. The Bankies, on the other hand, showed a remarkable display of teamwork built on a solid and determined defence. This performance raises hopes that they can replicate this fighting spirit and become a force to be reckoned with in the league campaign.

Match report written by and adapted by Stuart McBay