Arthurlie 0
Clydebank 1
League (WoSFL Premier)

Match Report

Liam McGonigle’s clever back heel just after the quarter hour mark was enough to give the Bankies the full three points in a testing match against Arthurlie at Dunterlie Park this afternoon. Clydebank had the chances to score a second, but found themselves under a fair bit of pressure in the last half hour, but some excellent defending from the back four with Jamie Darroch in particular on song saw the Bankies hold on.

This win, along with a number of favourable results elsewhere takes the club to the summit of the league table for the first time since the aborted pandemic season in 2020. It is a remarkable turnaround for a side who right up to the first game of this season looked out of touch.

Even with the on-form Nicky Low missing through a leg injury, the Bankies had enough about them to grind out the result. This was the kind of game that would have ended in a draw in the past, but it is this type of resolute performance that took Beith to the league title last season. Even when you are not at your best, you have to find a way to keep winning.

Normally, it is the forwards who receive the plaudits, but the defence deserve all the credit today. They have conceded just one goal away from home in the league in five matches this season and that was a penalty kick. This kind of stubbornness is what we need in the tight matches, to give the forwards the platform to nick something at the other end.

And it was a little bit of magic from Liam McGonigle that was the difference between the sides. A corner from the left was headed goalward by Jamie Darroch. It was blocked by a defender but the long leg of Matt Niven put the ball back into the six yard box. With his back to goal McGonigle neatly back-heeled the ball into the net leaving ex-Bankie Max Clarke stranded.

Although competitive in the first half Arthurlie barely troubled the Bankies goal, and in reality Gordon Moffat’s men were mainly in charge and had three great chances to put the game beyond the home side.

The first came from a superb pass by Oisin McHugh as he broke upfield and found Thomas Collins running down the left channel. The striker bore down on goal from an angle and forced Clarke in the Arthurlie goal to push the ball across his own six yard box, but there was no one on hand to knock in the loose ball.

Collins then turned provider, as he did well to nip in front of his marker to head the ball into the path of the over-lapping Lee Gallacher. The winger will be disappointed with his final effort, which we are used to seeing rocket into the back of the net. This time he didn’t catch the ball well at all and went straight into the arms of the grateful Clarke in the goal.

Collins was the unfortunate party when he missed probably the best chance of the three. Grant quickly took a throw-in lifting it over the full back’s head straight to Nicky Little who made for the bye-line before squaring the ball across the box. With the goal at his mercy, Collins hit the ball first time but only managed to hit it off the retreating Roulston and it deflected away for a corner.

The only other talking point of the half was whether Mark Docherty – who had already been booked - should have been sent off for an elbow on Nicky Little. It appeared to be accidental from my vantage point, however it is unusual for an elbowing offence not to result in a caution.

It did look like ref Thomas Denholm was reaching for his pocket, but appeared to bottle it once he realised he had already booked Docherty. Not surprisingly, the Arthurlie captain did not re-appear for the second half.

Kicking down the hill at Dunterlie, Arthurlie were a much different proposition and for the most part played on the front foot. Apart from an early chance from Thomas Collins when he was put through on goal by Lee Gallacher with the cutest of reverse passes, the Bankies did not threaten much at all.

This is where we probably most missed Nicky Low. He is an expert in game management at this level, and he would have made sure that the most was made of the breakaways we did have. Instead we were too often giving possession back to Arthurlie, and probably allowing them too much space in the middle of the park.

In saying that, our defensive shape held together well, and apart from a shot that Michael MacNeil drove against the side netting, and a couple of close things at corner kicks the Bankies goal remained fairly secure. The central pairing of Darroch and Niven allowed very little to get past them, and Darroch in particular threw his body fearlessly in front of the ball to either block crosses or break down attacks.

Despite there being little in goalmouth action, it was quite an open, attractive game in the second half, and a bit nerve-wracking for the Bankies fans who know their favourites can play much better than this.

There was nearly seven minutes of stoppage time added, exacerbated by the booking and subsequent sending off of ex-Pollok player Dylan Dykes for a couple of rash challenges. This all helped run the clock down.

With all our main rivals all dropping points, it was great to hear the Bankies fans sing ‘we are top of the league.’ Whether that stays the case for long remains to be seen. However, the Bankies have a real opportunity to open up a four point gap at the top in Friday’s match against Kirkintilloch Rob Roy at Holm Park. All the Bankies other rivals are involved in the Scottish Junior Cup next weekend, and a win for Clydebank would put some real pressure on those around us.

Match report written by Stuart McBay