Clydebank 1
Beith Juniors 2
South Challenge Cup (2nd Round)

Match Report

Clydebank fell at the first hurdle in the South Challenge Cup as they were defeated by the West Premier League leaders by two goals to one. Beith made it ten wins out of ten in all competitions this season and stretch their run against the Bankies to just one defeat in the last 14 meetings between the clubs.

The Bankies squad was stretched to breaking point due to suspensions, injuries and other reasons and Gordon Moffat had to call up four of the U-20s to bolster the substitutes bench. The missing were Grant, MacKenzie, Slattery, Hodge, McMahon, Kelly, and Creag Little.

Even though Gordon Moffat was able to field a strong starting line-up, his options were limited from the bench and this may have had a bearing on the outcome of a very close match. Overall, Beith enjoyed territorial advantage for much of the game particularly in the run up to their equaliser and just after.

However, the Bankies certainly had the best of the goal scoring chances, and though missed chances sound like the tune of a familiar lament, Beith can thank goalkeeper Owen Stott for pulling off several fantastic saves which probably done as much to win the game than anything else.

If there is a disappointment, it would be losing a late, late goal that settled the game as it seemed to be heading for extra time. The players just switched off at the vital moment and this allowed Beith to break quickly down the left wing through man of the match Aaron Mason. He crossed deep beyond the far post and even though it looked initially that he had over cooked it, Andy Monk cushioned the ball from an extremely tight angle to volley into the net.

There had been a suggestion that the ball was not stationary when the goalkeeper took the goal kick that led up to the goal, but unless we get VAR installed at Holm Park these kinds of things will bypass the officials at this level.

It’s always tough to lose a game in this manner, as there had been nothing between the sides for much of the time. The Bankies had started off brightly with Nicky Little trying one of his trademark 40 yard shots which sailed over the bar.

For long spells of the first half neither side could gain much traction with defences on top, and five of the eight yellow cards were produced in the opening 45 minutes.

Clydebank had kept Beith’s top goal scorer Ciaran Diver quiet, and had the better opportunities. Nicky Low, who was once again the Bankies best player burst forward just after the half hour but his 25 yard shot just zipped past the post with keeper Stott beaten.

The Bankies took the lead at the perfect time, just a couple of minutes before the interval. Oisin McHugh back in his old left back position got to the bye-line and crossed into the box. A defender managed to cut the ball out, but it landed at the feet of Nicky Little. From eight yards out he steered the ball into the net scoring for the fifth game in a row.

As expected, Chris Strain fired up his troops for the second period, but the game could have been all over if Nicky Little had converted a gilt edged chanced after 47 minutes. Lee Gallacher supplied the assist, putting Little clear of the defence. Although Stott saved well with his legs, Little wll be disappointed not to put this one away.

From this point Beith took over for their best spell of the match. However, up until the equaliser they still hadn’t really tested Keiran Hughes in the Bankies goal. It was old nemesis Carlo Monti who grabbed the goal with a fine free kick after Jamie Darroch had “fouled” Paul Frieze.

Frieze is one of Beith’s best servants and players over the last decade, however his diving antics do him no credit whatsoever. This is not the observation of just one game, but over many years. He got Frazer Johnstone sent off at Bellsdale a few years ago, and even it was a foul today, his Superman dive almost certainly got Darroch a yellow card. We’ve got to play Beith twice more in the league this season, and if you look out for it, he will not disappoint.

The Bankies were in desperate need of a change to the line up as Beith passed up a couple of decent opportunities, and to that end Graham and McEwan replaced McGonigle and Black who was having a difficult time against Mason.

Graham had as good a game as he has had since joining the club. He coped well with the physical battle against Rough and O’Neill. He was also desperately unlucky when he put through on goal by Gallacher. Stott was upon Graham very quickly and he could do no more than steer the ball on target, but the keeper blocked well.

The Bankies created several chances on the break over the last twenty minutes. Collins fizzed a shot diagonally across the six yard box but it went just wide, and Gallacher couldn’t believe his luck when Stott pulled off a superb stop from his top corner bound shot.

The best came from a Thomas Collins header. Gallacher was the architect again with his cross from the left wing. Collins headed downward at the back post, but not only did Stott get down miraculously on his left hand side to block, he also managed to push the ball upwards against the underside of the bar. It was an outstanding save.

After this, it was almost inevitable that the Beith would run down the other end and snatch it as they did.

There’s no reason to be down-hearted about this defeat as disappointing as it was. Beith are no better than the Bankies and we can go into the league games against them with the belief that we can win.

The cups can be a distraction to the big prize which is the league title. Obviously, you want to win on as many fronts as possible, but personally I’m not losing any sleep over this. I want the Bankies to climb the pyramid, and as soon as possible. That is the number one priority and this cup is one less thing to think about.

Next week, we travel to Dalkeith Thistle is the Scottish Cup. Now, this is one cup that we could do with a run in due to the obvious financial rewards it can bring. We beat Dalkeith at the same stage 7-0 two years ago, but I will settle for any kind of win.

Match report written by Stuart McBay