Clydebank 3
Clyde 0
Spring Cup (Group 6)

Match Report

Thanks to some devastating shooting, Bankies cantered to an easy victory against a weak Clyde side to qualify for the final stages of the Spring cup. In fact, with Queen of the South surprisingly defeating Raith Rovers, Bankies are now a point ahead in the section and need just one point at Kirkcaldy on Saturday to finish at the top.

Joe McCallan missed his first game of the season through flu and Bobby Provan was preferred to Mike Larnach as his replacement.

After a minute's silence was observed as a mark of respect to Bankies director Mr Jack Breckenridge, who died on Friday, the game got under way and it was obvious from the start that the constant rain over the past week had made the park extremely difficult.

Clyde had all the early play as both teams struggled to find their feet and a good effort from Sullivan drifted over the bar.

The visitors continued to make the most of the play and Marshall was only just too high with a snap shot from 15 yards.

Bankies best effort to date had been a tremendous diving header from Norrie Hall which Cairney saved brilliantly at the post but in the 23rd minute they took the lead with a great goal.Davie Cooper picked up a shy on the right and unleashed a rocket shot from 25 yards that raged into the net.

This brought the game to life and two minutes later it was 2-0.

Davie Cooper chased a long ball down the left wing and forced Ferris to concede a foul right on the byline. The winger took the kick himself and his cross to the far post was met on the run by Norrie Hall whose 12 yard shoot almost uprooted the net.

Clyde were stunned for they had looked the likelier side and their frustration showed when Hood crudely fouled Jim Lumsden and was lucky only to be booked.

The visitors,to their credit, kept plugging away and they should have pulled one back during an all-out assault in Bankies goal. Three hots were blocked by defenders as the home side defended desperately but Archibald finally drove the ball over the bar to relieve the pressure. Clyde kept up this attacking spree and Gregor Abel was on the line to head away a scoring shot from Marshall. Then incredibly, Bankies raced away and scored again.

Davie Cooper broke down the left wing, beat two defenders and swung the ball across the penalty box.

Norrie Hall, who had run the length of the park, chested the ball past a defender and shot perfectly into the corner of the net, much to everyone's delight.

Clyde were completely demoralised now and lined up after the interval with both substitutions on. The second period turned out to be an anti-climax as Bankies strolled to victory.

With the important game at Alloa on Tuesday night very much on the players mind,they obviously were not going to take any chances and the main interest to the disappointingly small crowd - could Norrie Hall complete what would be a remarkable hat-trick?

It almost arrived in the 60th minute when the big full back dived to meet a Davie Corner only to see his header kicked off the line by Ahern.

Mike Larnach replaced an unhappy looking Provan and almost scored when he finished off a brilliant move by Cooper, Lumsden and Browning with a neat flick but Cairney dived to produce a very good save at the post.

The game faded out as Bankies easily contained the half-hearted efforts of a well beaten side and the fans drifted away feeling perhaps that a couple more second half goals could have managed to keep the interest going.

So, Bankies move forward into the knock-out stages and certainly have nothing to fear from any of the teams left.