Bo'ness Utd 1
Clydebank 4
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Match Report

Gordon Moffat said in the Clydebank Post recently that he tweaked a few things going into pre-season as he wasn’t happy with how it went last year. We looked decidedly ragged a year ago, and the uneven form spilled into the league campaign with only one point gained in the first two matches before we kicked into gear.

Well, we look much sharper already and the comprehensive 4-1 defeat of Lowland League side Bo’ness United at Newtown Park who finished third in the table last season, was very satisfactory. It was not only the result, but the fact that we switched systems at half time going from three at the back to a back four seamlessly means we now have a clear plan B and flexibility depending on the opponents.

It was also great to see Dean Cairns and Frazer Johnstone both play the full 90 minutes. Bedding in the partnership with those two in the engine room could be a vital component in the team this season.

It also has to be remembered as well that Nicky Low, Callum Graham, Alan Kelly, and James Grant have yet to kick a ball in earnest thus far.

Bo’ness have lost a few players from their successful league campaign last season, but this performance will be a concern for manager Stuart Hunter. The Bankies could easily have racked up another three of four goals had they taken their chances.

It was all fairly even in the opening stages, but Clydebank always looked to have more of a cutting edge. A couple of meaty challenges apart – both involving Frazer Johnstone, the game was played competitively, but in good spirit.

Bo’ness had their best opportunity to open the scoring after 21 minutes when a cross from Rutherford was headed narrowly wide of the post by Porteus, with the Bankies trialist keeper scrambling across his goal line.

A few minutes later the Bankies took the lead with a route one goal. A long direct ball was nodded on by Nicky Little for Thomas Collins to run on to. The forward lifted the ball over the keeper, and despite getting a glove on it, the the ball dropped under the bar. Collins had missed a similar chance earlier in the game, so it will do his confidence no harm to have made amends.

The Bankies never really looked back after taking the lead and despite a couple of half chances they went into the interval leading by a single goal. Jamie Darroch was replaced by Lee Gallacher at the break and the extra forward player paid dividends almost straight away.
Liam McGonigle received the ball into his feet, and spun to release Thomas Collins on the right wing. Collins immediately slid the ball across the penalty area for McGonigle, who had raced forward looking for the return pass, and he swept the ball past keeper Campbell.

Within minutes it should have been three when Gallacher split open the Bo’ness defence with a killer pass, but Collins was thwarted by Campbell when he really should have scored.

The third goal arrived after 56 minutes from the penalty spot when Collins was clearly tripped in the box. Nicky Little did the necessary stroking the ball past Campbell.

McLernan and Mulcahy entered the fray and within minutes the pair conjured up the fourth goal. A through ball in a crowded penalty box found McLernan. The big forward turned and powered a shot off the legs of Campbell, but the ball broke for Mulcahy and he placed it into the empty net.

There were umpteen clear chances to run up a big score in the closing stages. Nicky Little kicked the ball into the ground when clean through, and Gallacher skied a shot over the bar from close in when Ben McLernan showed great footwork to set him up. These were the best two opportunities to increase the lead amongst many others.

It was the home side who were to claim a consolation, however. A mix-up between 20s keeper Lucas Ross and fellow youngster Iain Begg saw the keeper left in no man’s land. This left Louis Kennedy with a fairly straight forward finish to complete the scoring.

All in, it was a very enjoyable afternoon’s football, and a million miles away from how we looked at this stage last season. The Bankies along with Auchinleck Talbot and St Cadocs are amongst a small minority of clubs in the league to make just minor adjustments to their squads in the summer. The Bankies undoubtedly had some failings, and we have continued to pursue a gradualist tactic in terms of improvement whereas a number of clubs have gone for wholesale changes. It is vital that we hit the ground running in an unbelievably competitive division, and hopefully the familiarity in our squad will help us do so.

Match report written by Stuart McBay