Hurlford United 1
Clydebank 4
League (WoSFL Premier)

Match Report

You know when you are on a winning streak that it will come to an end at some point, and going by past form, the visit to Blair Park to face Hurlford United is one venue that you may have expected the Bankies to come unstuck at. However, today was not to be that day as Gordon Moffat’s men thumped the Ayrshire side by four goals to one for our biggest ever win at Blair Park.

The Bankies were undoubtedly aided by the two red cards that Hurlford received towards the end of the first half with the score standing at 2-1. Ross Robertson was first to go after he needlessly scythed down Nicky Low in the middle of the pitch from behind. This prompted an angry response from Adam Hodge who was yellow carded. What followed was complete madness from Paul McKenzie who must have thought it was a boxing match he was participating in as he landed a fine right cross on Hodge. McKenzie will surely now end up with a lengthy ban as he had to be restrained from causing any further damage.

This excitement came on the back of an exhilarating first twenty minutes from the Bankies as we raced into a two goal lead on a gloriously hot September afternoon. Moffat only made one change from last week swapping Keir Samson for Ciaran Mulcahy. This was presumably because of the fine condition of the Blair Park pitch lending itself to Samson’s running and movement. Had this game been on at the back end of February that decision may have been different.

Clydebank came out of the blocks full of intent and were in the lead after just four minutes with a superb strike from Nicky Low. A clever corner taken by Lee Gallacher found Low 25 yards from goal. The ball took one bounce and then he volleyed an unstoppable shot past O’Connor.

Hurlford hadn’t done anything particularly wrong as they had spells of possession, but Clydebank were quick and threatening with every break upfield. The second goal arrived after 19 minutes and it was well constructed. Samson ran into space down the right wing, and he waited for support in the shape of Lee Gallacher. The winger turned on to his left foot and curled the ball into the box. It was Dean Cairns who has the knack of making a delayed run into the box, who took the cross ball in his stride and stroked it into the bottom corner to increase the lead.

Samson and Truesdale had further attempts at goal before Hurlford fought their way back into the game after 38 minutes. There had been one or two warning signs prior to the goal, so it was slightly disappointing to lose one so soft in nature. The ball had been worked out to the right and Morrison fired in a low shot which Leishman should probably have dealt with better on his right had side. Unfortunately, the ball spilled out to Ross Robertson who had the simple task of tapping into the empty net.

The red card incident followed and basically set the format for the second half where nine man Hurlford would have no option but to keep their shape and hopefully nick something at the other end. For the Bankies, it was a matter of being patient and getting that all important third goal and surely taking the game away from the home side. Gordon Moffat also wisely took off Adam Hodge at the break after his involvement in the melee.

Hurlford did have a little bit of a go on the resumption of play, but it was pretty much one way traffic for the most part, however the Bankies were being quite wasteful with the final ball and as we reached the midway of the point the closest a goal came to being scored was a tremendous shot from Nicky Little shot which crashed off the bar.

It did seem inevitable that a third goal would eventually come and it finally did after 75 minutes. The Bankies were a constant threat down the left wing and it was from there that Oisin McHugh delivered a delightful cross ball for the rejuvenated Nicky Little to power a head home for his 6th goal of the season.

The goal prompted a couple of substitutions with Mulcahy and the returning Kelly entering the fray. Within three minutes both of these players combined to score an almost identical goal to the third when the former headed a cross from the latter into the net beyond O’Connor.

The Bankies could easily have gone onto score more, but O’Connor was in great form stopping a real landslide. I don’t think anyone would have put up much of a fight if you were offered a 4-1 prior to kick, so this was yet another fantastic result.

That makes it nine wins in a row in all competitions which is easily the best start to a season in the club’s history, but still well short of the13 wins in a row recorded in 2012. With the next three games being against Lower league opposition in cup matches, then we would be hopeful of getting within touching distance of that record. However, nothing should be taken for granted as every result must be earned and you will be cut down to size the minute you take your eye of the ball.

Man of the match would go Nicky Low not just for his goal, but how he controlled game particularly in the second half when we had the extra men. He kept the ball moving and made it impossible for Hurlford to do anything but defend. The intensity of the substitutes has been impressive as all the players appear to be pulling in the same direction.

An honourable mention to Adam Hodge as well who took his punch like a man, and his yellow card was well worth the red McKenzie got in return.

Match report written by Stuart McBay