Kilwinning Rgrs 0
Clydebank 1
League (WoSFL Premier)

Match Report

Liam McGonigle’s strike midway through the second half gave Clydebank a hard earned victory over Kilwinning Rangers at the Buffs Park in the West of Scotland Premier League. It was a fifth consecutive win for the Bankies, and they are looking good for a top four finish in the league. There wasn’t a great deal to choose between the third and fourth placed clubs, but this result opens up a six point gap over Kilwinning with a game in hand.

The Bankies were still missing the suspended Adam Hodge for this encounter, and lined up with a three at the back formation. It wasn’t clear whether it was intentional to play without a right back or if it just ended up a little bit lop-sided to the left. This was making life difficult for Matt Niven on the right hand side particularly when Kilwinning broke upfield quickly. The gap was plugged for the second half with Chris Black moving into the full back position. It was just as well as Buffs substitute Gavin looked particularly dangerous down this flank.

It was quite a topsy-turvy match with both sides having periods of dominance. The Bankies had the better of the opening exchanges and Kilwinning finished the first half the stronger.

Nicky Little had the ball in the net after just six minutes from a Mulcahy nodded through pass, but he had ventured just offside. Munro then had an inviting chance from the corner of the penalty box, but he dragged his shot/cross well beyond the goal.

Kilwinning had their best chance thus far after 13 minutes when a diagonal headed forward ball found McColm free at the back post, but he completely fluffed his side footed effort, and it went straight into the arms of Stevenson.

Minutes later Nicky Little made a fine penetrating run down the right hand channel, but he wasn’t supported, so he had no option but to have a dip at goal and he wasn’t a million miles away as the ball came off the side netting.

In a bizarre moment, a cross into the middle of the penalty area was heading for Ross McPherson. Keeper Barclay came off his line and completely cleaned out McPherson in an attempt to clear the ball. When the ref blew his whistle it seemed like it could only be a penalty award, but the ref amazingly gave Kilwinning a free kick..

The Bankies had a good spell in the middle of the half, but it was only a series of half chances that came to pass. A free kick from McPherson went over the bar. The same player was an inch away from getting a toe on a tantalising Munro cross, and then Niven hit the ball wide after it fell at his feet from a corner kick.

Kilwinning came into the game towards the end of the half and had two good chances to open the scoring. The first was for McColm who made McHugh look pretty daft out on the right wing when he knocked the ball inside the defender. The winger was a bit too hasty in shooting and Stevenson saved well at his near post for a corner.

Shortly afterwards, Jordan Stuart missed an utter sitter when the ball was chested down for him inside the penalty box. With the goal gaping he drilled the ball wide of Stevenson’s right hand post.

Kilwinning had the bulk of the possession at the start of the second half but posed no immediate threat to the Bankies goal. As Clydebank settled they began to turn the game in their favour. Mulcahy couldn’t keep a header from going over the bar from a powerful Munro cross after 52 minutes. The Bankies then forced a series of corners but they all proved to be fruitless.

With 63 minutes on the clock, Liam McGoningle was introduced for McPherson, and just four minutes later he made the decisive strike of the game, A flighted through ball wasn’t cut out properly, and the touch from the defender aided McGonigle as the ball bounced up nicely for him. With keeper Barclay racing from his line, McGonigle kept his composure and lifted the ball over his head and into the net.

Not surprisingly, the home side raised their game and were unlucky to see the ball kicked off the line three minutes later. It came from a corner which was clawed away by Stevenson. The loose ball was hit towards the goal by Kirkpatrick, but Nicky Little was there to prevent a goal.

With this burst nullified, the Bankies had a few chances to put the game to bed. McGonigle shot first time over the bar from a Munro cross. Nicky Little twice shot wide from 25 yards, and Connor Hamilton was inches away from getting on the end of yet another Munro set up.

Kilwinning threw everything at the Bankies goal in the closing stages including five minutes of stoppage time, and young Jamie Stevenson earned his clean sheet when he saved a point blank header. The unreadable numbers on the Buffs shirts made it impossible to see who had the chance.

You can’t complain about five wins in a row, though the Bankies have yet to have a killer performance in this run. Today was probably the best so far as Kilwinning away is never an easy place to win at. The Buffs haven’t been at their best recently, but they are still a top side and it was good to finally get a result against one of the top six.

Next week the Bankies are on the road again at Hurlford who are in a bad run of form winning just once in their last seven. The Ayrshire side won handsomely at Holm Park earlier in the season and have a very good record against the Bankies. However, a Clydebank win could see the Bankies open up a fifteen point gap between the sides making a top four finish a very real possibility.

Match report written by Stuart McBay