Montrose 2
Clydebank 2
League (1st Division)

Match Report

In a fiery, brutal encounter at Montrose last Saturday Clydebank did well to survive serious injury and gain a valuable away point. It is always a difficult place to pick up points, but Bankies have a good record there and the main difficulty for them was to forget the Ibrox match.

They had an enforced change at right back where the suspended Hall was replaced by John McCormack but this did not seem to affect them as the shocked the home side with a great goal after just two minutes.

It was that man Davie Cooper who did the damage, taking a pass from Dougie Hay and hammering the ball low and hard into the net from 22 yards.

The home side were not going to lie down, however, and attacked Bankies as if their lives depended upon it. This tactic certainly paid off for them for a two goal in two minute burst had the Clydebank defence reeling.

Barr flighted a high cross to the far post after 12 minutes and Stewart rose to head into the corner of the net.

Not content with that, Montrose struck again. Miller raced down the night and, with the Bankies defence all over the place, he squared for Street to score with a low shot.

Now it was Bankies turn to show what they were made of for, far from being despondent at this quick turn of events, they immediately struck back.

Joe McCallan was fouled by McNichlol midway inside the home half and deservedly found his name in the book.

Jim Lumsden lofted the free kick into the area and the blond head of Joe McCallan rose to glide a header into the far corner of the net.

Only 16 minutes gone and four goals already! The larger than average crowd was certainly getting its money's worth and more was to follow when Miller was sent clear by Street and Jim Fallon pulled him down in the box.

However, Barr made a hash of the penalty hitting the ball straight enough for Jim Gallacher to dive and party

Unfortunately, the good football finished about this time as the game developed into a hard physical battle. D'Arcy was booked for a foul on Mike Larnach then Billy Fanning suffered the same fate after a clash with Stewart.

The second half was a disaster with Montrose hitting aimless high balls into the Bankies area and Clydebank managing just one shot at goal.

Far too much emphasis was put on stopping the ball players, at all costs, and Davie Cooper was never seen in the game. Cant became the third home player booked for a lunge at Lumsden then the 75th minute brought the trouble to a head.

Larnach fouled Cant who made a meal of the tackle by rolling about and, while the officials' attention was on his performance, d'Arcy retaliated by punching Bankies' centre who had to leave the field with blood pouring from his mouth.

The home centre half, who had spent all afternoon kicking anything in sight and gesticulating at the crowd, should never have been allowed to stay on the field.

Montrose staged a late bid for a winner which would have been totally undeserved for neither team had played enough football to collect two points.

Still, it was a valuable point to gather and many teams will struggle to take anything away from Links Park this season. Sadly the point was gained at the expense of a face injury to Mike Larnach and a pulled muscle for Billy McColl who did not look fit from the start.

Hopefully they will both be in a position to play at Kilbowie tomorrow when managerless East Fife are the visitors. Bankies will be looking for two points to keep up their challenge at the top of the league.