Clydebank 4
Glenafton Ath 1
League (WoSFL Premier)

Match Report

Bankies, after a much improved performance at Irvine Meadow made one change to the line up for this crucial league match against Glenafton at Holm Park

The first chance of the match fell to Moffat for Glens but his shot trundled wide

A minute later and Holm Park was stunned when Fraser lashed in from the edge of the box following Bankies conceding a needless corner, then poor defending trying to clear the ball.

The Bankies responded quickly when big Matt Niven got on the end of a Gallacher corner and his header was cleared off the line by McLean.

And straight afterwards the Bankies equalised when Johnstone tenaciously won the ball at the edge of the box and Collins curled in a great finish from 15 yards leaving Markey stranded. The lead had lasted just six minutes

Bankies had now upped their game and created a couple of decent opportunities, firstly when Gallacher tamely tried a lob which Markey easily saved, then in the 23rd minute Gallacher sent in a free kick which Muclahy headed past the post.

The visitors had a great chance to regain the lead after 27 minutes after superb attacking interplay between Moffat and McWaters saw the latter denied by a fine stop by Hughes as his angled shot looked net bound.

The pivotal moment of the match occurred just before the interval when firstly Niven was booked for a tug on McWaters. Then, the big centre half was subject to a crazy challenge by Sam McKee which was deemed to be a straight red card by referee Gentles. There is no doubt it was a high challenge, but McKee could easily have gotten away with a yellow on another day

With an extra man the Bankies immediately began the second half on the offensive and Mulcahy had a shot blocked after a great Collins knockdown.

The lead wasn’t long in coming for the Bankies as they went ahead with a superbly worked routine from a corner a kick which was drilled into the net by Slattery from twelve yards from a Gallacher pass.

The charged up Bankies now pressed for further goals and the impressive Grant had an effort which flew narrowly over the bar.

Glenafton brought on ex-Bankie Alan Frizzell to try and reverse their fortunes but it was the home side who extended their lead in the 58th minute when a lovely turn and finish from Mulcahy from a sublime Slattery pass but the Bankies 3-1 up

Glens were struggling to get out of their own half now and a third Bankies goal in 12 minutes put the result out of doubt when a ball over the top by Gallacher found Collins who raced in and slammed a fierce shot past Markey.

Clydebank could have made the scoreline much more miserable for Glenafton but chances missed by Subs Graham, Nicky Little and Kelly all went a begging.

All in all a pleasing performance with greater intensity with everyone playing their part, but I thought Slattery, Grant, Low and Collins were the pick of the bunch for the Bankies.

It is another big game next Saturday awaiting at Largs Thistle who had a terrific win at Troon, but Bankies will be keen to back up this result after looking more like their usual selves.

Match report written by Donnie Reid