Clydebank 1
Shotts Bon Acc 0
League (WoSFL Premier)

Match Report

I promised not to use the phrase, “Scottish Cup hangover” in this match report but it’s too late I’ve already done it. However you want to define it, this wasn’t a particularly heartening performance for the hard slog that lies ahead, as the Bankies struggled to overcome relegation threatened Shotts.

There was a distinct lack of energy throughout the side particularly in the first half, and we were too busy passing the ball in front of Shotts most of the time, and when we did manage to find a way through it was almost as if we wanted to walk the ball into the net. There was a touch of irony that when the goal which won the game finally arrived, it was more of the route one variety, not taking away from David Syme’s well delivered chip over the Shotts defence.

We did show more intensity and played at a better tempo in the second half, so perhaps it would be wise not to be too critical as we seek to build our way back into the season after a lengthy weather induced lay-off, but only because we did find a way to win in the end. You can almost rule out the Hibs game last week as the competitive comeback due to the unique circumstances of the occasion.

Shotts came to Holm Park with a clear gameplan to frustrate and hopefully steal something at the other end through a breakaway or a set piece. It was therefore about whether Clydebank could break the visitors down.

we struggled for large parts of the game particularly in the wide areas with both Truesdale and Gallacher off-colour. After a year at Holm Park, it is still hard to see what position Truesdale would be most comfortable in, and Gallacher was incredibly careless with the ball. On one occasion after we had finally taken the lead, he allowed himself to be robbed of the ball deep inside his own half, and it resulted in Shotts best chance of the match. With numbers in support, the ball was worked to substitute Andy Duffy, but his shot was snuffed out by Leishman.

In saying that, had we taken the chances we did create then the match may have taken on a completely different complexion. Ciaran Mulcahy flashed a couple of headers wide, and Lee Gallacher should have burst the net when he was put through by Nicky Low, following a Mulcahy nod-on. Unfortunately, with the goal at his mercy, he leathered the goalkeeper flush in the face with the ball.

Mulcahy was the one shining light in the attack, and he had to do his own work just on the stroke of half time, when he chased after his own knock-on and was incredibly unlucky as his first time left-footed strike came off the base of the post. But maybe not as unlucky as keeper Thomson, who was struck on the back of the head as the ball rebounded off the upright.

The second period saw further chances for Nicky Little who latched on to a slide rule through ball, but opted for power from a good position, but only succeeded in blasting the ball over the bar.

Then, David Syme fluffed his lines with a free header from a corner kick, and Ciaran Mulcahy took a fresh air swipe at the rebound after Thomson fumbled the ball.

When the goal finally arrived after 74 minutes it was not from one of those ten pass well-constructed goals that we are always trying to score, but from a more direct route, and it shows the value of being able to mix it up.

The ball was recycled to David Syme on the halfway line, and his delightful, chipped ball beyond the defence was met by an equally perfect run by Nicky Little. As the ball sat up Little, nodded it past the advancing keeper, and followed it into the net just to make sure.

The Bankies brought on Samson and new signing Aaron Black, and they offer the side a different dynamic. Samson probably hasn’t had as many starts as he would like, and it will be interesting to see where Black fits into the whole equation.

Shotts never really looked like they could score and once we had the breakthrough, we looked fairly certain of collecting the three points. It was just as well as other than a first time Cairns shot that went straight to the keeper, we didn’t really create anything else of any note.

This was probably the ideal game to get us back into the swing of things, and the fact we managed to get it over the line is all that really matters. The gap at the top opened back up to four points and we retain between one and four games in hand.

I’m not overly happy about the amount of cup games, but a tough test at Arthurlie next week will give the players some more valuable competitive game time, before we embark on a run of three massive home league games that could define the season. It was February last season that it all fell apart. This year we have the opportunity to write a different ending to the story.

Match report written by Stuart McBay