Clydebank 2
Stranraer 1
League (2nd Division)

Match Report

A crucial 90 minutes faced Bankies when they took the field against Stranraer today. Victory was a must with three teams pushing for two vital promotion places, and one wondered how a two week lay off would affect Bankies rhythm.

Astonishingly, the local public don't seem to be taking Bankies bold promotion bid seriously, for on a day that was certainly cold, but clear and dry, and when little else was happening in the surrounding areas, barely 1000 fans turned up. Thus the vital ingredient necessary to spur the players on, vocal support was sadly lacking.

On a bone hard surface Bankies started with all the play but never really threatened the veteran Billy Ritchie in goal. All Bankies efforts were halted by a big defence whose only tactic was to boot the ball up field for the visitors front runners to chase.

Davie Cooper burst into the match in the 17th minute when a sparkling run gave Hall a shooting opportunity but Ritchie rose to touch the ball over for a corner.

This spell apart Bankies struggled to impress and badly lacked imagination and even at times motivation. Lumsden was booked in the 21st minute for a foul on Lawrie and as Stranraer came more into the match McCabe pulled out a great save from McKenzie.

The apathy of the local support seemed to have spread to the team for they just could not get going, and as restlessness grew in the terracing, Bankies lost a shocking goal in the 36th minute.

A harmless cross by Duffy should have been easily dealt with,but as McKenzie left his line Goodwin elected to head back to the keeper and stood aghast as the ball nestled in the back of the net.

Before Bankies could pull themselves back, the visitors almost increased their lead. A Ritchie clearance was brilliantly laid off by McCabe to Lawrie, who might have done better than shoot wide.

In a spell of Clydebank pressure before the interval Muir and Heap fell foul of the referee for fouls on Larnach and McCallan.

As the teams left the field at the interval the Bankies fans chanted, "What a load of rubbish!" and for once they were justified.

What a change after the break, however, for with Browning replacing Caskie Bankies pressed relentlessly forward.

Their work rate improved tremendously as they buzzed around Ritchie it looked now as if Bankies wanted to win, and Browning made a name for himself with a sizzling 20 yard drive that Ritchie pushed for a corner.

Minutes later Hay was sent clear with the visitors defence claiming offside, but he delayed his shot and again Ritchie saved at the expense of a corner.

All this pressure had to pay off, and did in the 57th minute. Hay and Abel won a corner out on the left, and when Cooper flighted the ball over, Joe McCallan rose above the defence to head goal-ward.

Ritchie managed to palm the ball into the air but the referee and linesmen were well positioned to see the ball crossing the line and awarded a goal, much to everyone's relief.

It was all Bankies now, and a tremendous run by Davie Cooper led to an almighty scramble in the area during which a strong penalty claim was turned down.

As time ran out, Willie Munro introduced Bobby Provan, surprisingly in place of Joe McCallan, and with just seven minutes remaining came the glorious winning goal. It all started with Jim Fallon dispossessing Traynor at edge of the area. Jim Lumsden carried the ball out of the danger zone and sent a peach of a pass ahead of Davie Cooper.

He ran on and on past a couple of defenders before slipping an inch perfect pass through to Ian Browning who had timed his run beautifully and gleefully shot home to send Kilbowie into raptures.

Thus Jekyll and Hyde performance by Bankies took on special significance as the news filtered through that Raith had lost and Alloa held to a draw. The all round improvement in the second half that deservedly won the points more than compensates for the first 45 minutes, and put Bankies proudly back to the top of the league.

One unsavoury moment from this match was an incident involving Jimmy Lumsden and a section of the crowd. Perhaps Bankies acting captain had received some undue criticism but he was out of line to carry on in the manner in which he did.

In a time when the Bankies need all the support they can it would be better if players and fans could pull together for they all want to see the Bankies winning the championship.