Clydebank 1
St Johnstone 0
League (1st Division)

Match Report

A Billy McColl special from 25 yards half way through the second half was enough to keep Bankies at the top of the first division last Saturday- but oh, the chances they missed!

An excellent crowd of around 3000 saw the men from Perth arrive determined to prove that last season's relegation was a temporary lapse. But even a Clydebank side with one eye on Ibrox was too much for them.

Conditions were excellent, and the game started at a fast and furious pace, with incidents at both ends.

Lambie and Lawson combined well for the visitors, but the latter's parting effort was wide of the target.

Bankies' reply was a brilliant through ball from Lumsden to Hay, who had run into good position, but his shot lobbed just over.

Jim Lumsden was controlling things in midfield for Bankies, and another peach of a pass sent Mike Larnach through, but he wasted a great opportunity by over-running the ball and allowing a relieved Robertson to gather.

Bankies were, as usual, pressing for an early goal, and Cooper and Larnach combined well to give Lumsden a chance. His shot was too high.

The visitors had seven men back, and relied only on a quick break to counter-attack but carelessness in the Bankies' defence, uncharacteristically by Billy Fanning, gave the Bankies fans a couple of frights.

A short pass back was intercepted by Taylor, and Jim Gallagher made amends for last week's blunder by racing from goal to punch the ball clear.

It was not long before the homesters were making tracks for the Perth goal, and Davie Cooper, now operating on the left, began to turn the defence.

Anderson was unlucky to be booked by Mr. Muirhead for a simple-looking foul on Lumsden, and from the resulting free-kick Cooper raced down the wing and crossed hard and low across the face of the goal; however, there was no one there to complete the job,

After the break, Saints, with McGregor replacing Anderson, Seemed even more content to play defensively, and Bankies, probably with their minds wandering to Ibrox, were finding difficulty in making headway.

Frustration began to creep into the play, and this spread to parts of the terracing, but Bankies never appeared to be in trouble, and the all-important goal duly arrived in the 65th minute.

Roberts fouled Larnach some 25 yards out, and when Davie Cooper ran over the ball, Billy McColl hammered a shot low into the corner of the net.

This was what Bankies needed to settle them, and from this time on they dominated play with excellent passing movements. Unfortunately they left their shooting boots in the dressing room, and missed a handful of great opportunities.

Abel sent McCallan clear, and he rounded two defenders only to see his final shot blocked on the line. That was a fine effort, and from the resultant corner Dougie Hay powered in a header that Robertson brilliantly turned over the bar.

Chances were coming fast and furious now, and a long sweeping pass by Hall was headed into McCallan's path by Hay, but the blond striker's shot was well saved again by the 'keeper.

This was easily Bankies' best spell and they were denied what looked a clear penalty when Mike Larnach was tripped from behind in the box.

Two glaring misses robbed Bankies of a larger winning margin in the closing minutes. A great move up the right by McCallan, Cooper and Larnach ended when the centre crossed into the goalmouth, but Dougie Hay somehow managed to snoot over the bar from just four yards. Then Larnach managed the same feat from about eight yards.

All this time Saints managed to threaten just once and Jim Gallacher rose to the occasion by diving to save a snapshot from Lawson.

This victory sees Bankies clear at the top of the league with nine out of ten points and looking good.

They played very well at times, especially after the goal, and with a little luck and better finishing would have won by more. Still it was impressive enough to ensure that the fans will be back.