Eglinton 0
Clydebank 14
West of Scotland Football League Cup (1st Round)

Match Report

The record books will need to be scoured, but it looks like this exceptional 14-0 victory over Fourth Division Eglinton in the West of Scotland Cup will indeed be recorded as Clydebank’s best ever victory in competitive football.

It is easy to argue that there is nothing to be learned in such a one-sided game, however the players were relentless in their pursuit of more goals. They did not let their levels drop for one moment, and it is this desire and mental fortitude that needs to be taken into tougher games where the demands are higher and the rewards are greater.

As well as the fourteen goals, the Bankies hit the woodwork on at least another 5 occasions so the score could have been even more devastating for Eglinton. The Ayrshire club are new to this level of football and it is a hard lesson for a young team to overcome, and the five divisions of a difference was evident from the get go.

Clydebank were three goals up in the opening ten minutes. Higgins forced the first over the line from close range after the ball wasn’t cleared properly in just three minutes. This was the exact opposite of how Eglinton would have hoped the game to have started.

Mulcahy clipped the ball home from a McGonigle pass after 7 minutes to make it two and just moments afterwards the game was over when Higgins produced a great touch and shot to rifle the ball home from 20 yards.

After a quiet period – in goals, not chances – the Bankies went further ahead with two quick goals from Alan Kelly both from long range. The first was a cracker, but the second was a disaster for the keeper who let the ball in through his legs.

Just on the break, young Aidan MacDonald scored his first goal for the club with a close range header.

The goals continued to rain in the second half, with McKinlay and Weir both grabbing doubles. McKinlay’s second was an absolute screamer from 30 yards that dipped violently and crashed into the net via the underside of the bar.

Black, Niven, Gallacher and Little also added goals to take the goal tally to a remarkable fourteen goals.

As a supporter it was great to be present at such a landmark day. The Bankies 8-1 victory over Arbroath back in 1977 was the best result in the Senior years and a couple of nines were dished out in the current era against Carluke and Thorniewood.

This result won’t have done the confidence any harm as a much more difficult proposition faces the Bankies next week in the shape of Largs Thistle in the South Challenge Cup at Holm Park.

Match report written by Stuart McBay