Clydebank 2
Rutherglen Glen 0
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Match Report

It was a sad evening for Clydebank supporters as they observed a minutes silence for Stevie McAneney who passed away suddenly last week. He may have been a director, kitman, and programme editor amongst other things but he was first and foremost a fan. The reaction on social media, and tributes from within and outwith the club shows the esteem he was held in, and he will be missed

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The Bankies picked up their second win in the pre-season run defeating Rutherglen Glencairn at Holm Park tonight by two goals to nil. It was all decidedly unimpressive for sixty minutes against a Glens side playing just their first game this season.

The visitors also made seven changes at the interval and even against virtually a whole new side it took the Bankies a while to gain the upper hand.

The players certainly passed the ball about well enough at times, but with a distinct lack of penetration. We also seemed to be holding back off the ball which is unusual as the high press has been such a feature of Gordon Moffat’s sides.

The Glens could easily have been a couple of goals up before the Bankies woke up. It was around the hour mark that we suddenly began to put it together and we got the two goals that eventually won the game.

Reviewing my notes, I could not see one shot at goal in the whole first half for Clydebank, whereas Rutherglen had two great opportunities to take the lead.

The first was from a half-cleared cross ball that fell for Woodhouse just inside the box, but he did not control his shot properly and it flew over the bar.

Just before the interval, the Glens wasted a fantastic chance to score. It was a superb passing move that pushed and pulled the Bankies defence from right to left, and Collins was clear on goal only to be denied by the quick reaction of Donnelly in the home goal.

The huge amount of substitutions by the visitors didn’t seem to affect the pattern of play too much early on in the second half when Henry missed with a simple header from a Boomer cross.

It was Bankies sub Callum Graham who finally had a couple of efforts at goal. A near post volley from a tight angle went wide, then a snapshot from outside the box that made Law use his gloves for the first time in the match.

It was just after this that Clydebank looked like a different side. It was like someone had literally flicked a switch and we all of a sudden had a bit of danger about us.

We were getting in behind their full backs and forcing corner kicks causing some panic in the Glens penalty box. Collins was just wide with a header before the lead came from a corner kick.

The ball was delivered to the back post to where Jamie Darroch made a perfect run, and he stooped to bullet the ball in the top corner.

With the Glens no struggling for the first time in the match, a second goal was quickly added. Callum Graham challenged for a cross ball which broke just nicely for Liam McGonigle who headed home from close range.

The Bankies could have had a third when Lee Gallacher side footed into the net, but it was pulled back by the ref for offside. It would have probably have been harsh on the Glens to lose by three.

I’m not sure Gordon Moffat will be too happy with this tonight. That is four games behind us now and we need to be showing more than we did for the first hour. We are two weeks away from the start of the league campaign and we need more intensity in our play. Our opening fixtures are relatively kind and it is vital we get off to a good start. We can do better.

We have a double header this weekend in the Renfrew tournament. We will be playing Ashfield in our ‘Semi-final’ on Saturday, and if we progress to the final it will be Renfrew or Kilsyth Athletic on Sunday.

Match report written by Stuart McBay