Clydebank 4
Bonnyton Thistle 1
Scottish Cup (Preliminary Round)

Match Report

It will be Clydebank who go into the hat for the first round draw of the Scottish Cup after coming through against Bonnyton Thistle by four goals to one, mainly thanks to an improved fifteen minute spell at the start of the second half.

However, had Kyle McAvoy put the ball in the net when he was clean through on goal with his side already one up with just fifteen minutes on the clock, then we could have been talking about a different outcome. The pressure to overturn a two goal deficit would have been immense, and with Bankies form being patchy recently, we thankfully did not have to go through that. The striker just took too many touches on the ball and put it past the post when it looked easier to score.

The Bankies are still not looking like a cohesive unit, and even after netting two early goals in the second half to go 3-1 up, Bonnyton remained competitive throughout – without troubling the goal too much it has to be said – and a stoppage time strike from Nicky Little gave the scoreline a gloss which is probably a little harsh on the away side.

Despite the break from competitive action, Clydebank looked fragile in the early stages of the match. A free kick from McGonigle which skimmed the side netting was all there was to show in the opening exchanges.

It was the visitors who looked more settled and took a shock lead after eight minutes. McAvoy and Gardiner worked a one two down the left wing and when the ball was crossed across the six yard box – at the second attempt – there was Craig Patterson to smash the ball high into the net.

The Bankies almost replied immediately when a Jamie Darroch header from a corner kick was diverted onto the crossbar by Josh Weir.

However, Bonnyton were looking the more assured as the Clydebank players were slack with their passing, and we were seeing some uncharacteristic arguing among themselves.

The fatal miss from McAvoy followed shortly afterwards, and then Rory Campbell shot over the bar from 25 yards when he was allowed too much space just outside the box.

Clydebank slowly clawed a way into the match, and were denied by the woodwork again, when Gallacher fed the ball to Little inside the six yard box. He neatly side-stepped a defender but his left footed shot rebounded off the crossbar.

Little then had a glancing header drift past the far post before the Bankies leveled the match after 34 minutes. Aidan McDonald showed good work on the left wing, and when the ball reached Josh Weir in the box his initial effort was blocked, but he reacted quickly to thrash it into the net on the second attempt.

Bonnyton could be well pleased with their first half showing. They certainly didn’t look like a side struggling at the bottom of the Division below. However, they were to fall behind just three minutes into the second period as the Bankies looked to up the tempo.

A fine through pass saw Josh Weir get away from his marker, and for the third time the woodwork came to the rescue of Bonnyton as his shot crashed off the crossbar. It was to be lucky for the Bankies this time as Nicky Little was first to react as he dived spectacularly to head the ball into the unguarded goal.

Bonnyton did not take this lying down and they almost drew level five minutes later when McAvoy was found 25 yards out following good play on the left wing. His low shot to the bottom corner was well stopped by King who had to dive full length.

Clydebank were looking busier and stretched their lead after 56 minutes. It came from a cleared cross ball which was headed back into the danger zone by Frazer Johnstone. As the ball drooped Josh Weir show great strength to hold off his marker, and he hit a rasping shot which the keeper got his hands to, but the sheer power saw the ball drop into the net behind him.

The Bankies returned to their shell as Bonnyton showed more intent from this moment forward. There were just one or two occasions that the visitors came too close for comfort, and a better side might have taken full advantage.

Gardiner had a header which had he shown more conviction might have reaped rewards rather than being blocked, then McAvoy had a shot which King parried into the six yard box forcing Darroch into a panic clearance. Patterson was just inches away from a second goal when a whipped cross ball from the right was just beyond his stretched leg.

With the clock ticking into overtime the Bankies grabbed a fourth goal, and again the goal frame was involved. Substitute Alan Kelly was the unfortunate man this time as his shot cannoned off the inside of the post, however Nicky Little was alert to the rebound which he scooped off the underside of the bar, and the linesman signaled that the ball dropped just over the line much to the annoyance of the Bonnyton players.

As with all cup games the priority was to get into the next round which the Bankies have managed to do. However, I can’t see there being too much celebrating being done by the management. The team is still not performing to anywhere near the standard that we saw last season, as this was far from a convincing display.

It is not easy to single out any players individually for praise, but hopefully the goals scored today will help Little and Weir, and young Aidan McDonald looked promising at left back.

Next week it is back to league business as we travel to face Cambuslang Rangers. We have a decent record at Somervell Park and we should be looking to collect all three point as Cambuslang have lost all three of their matches in the league so far.

Match report written by Stuart McBay