Clydebank 2
Hurlford United 1
League (WoSFL Premier)

Match Report

The finish line made a dramatic appearance over the horizon as the Bankies defeated Hurlford United by two goals to one at Holm Park this afternoon as both of our closest rivals lost. The gap now stands at a massive sixteen points, and despite a third of the season remaining, we can surely only throw it away. The league season has been nothing short of remarkable, and the sequence of twenty unbeaten matches has not been seen since the days of the Clydebank Juniors back in the 1940s.

It is perhaps fitting that Clydebank Juniors are mentioned as a minute’s silence was observed to commemorate 84 years since the Blitz tore the town apart in 1941. With Kilbowie Park suffering bomb damage, the Bankies had to move to Yoker’s Holm Park where we are today. A little over a month after the Blitz Clydebank returned to action and defeated Petershill 3-2 on our way to winning the Central League Title.

It was the following season that Clydebank Juniors won 21 league games in a row after losing on the opening day of the season to Yoker Athletic. Out of great devastation came great resilience and the Bankies would also go on to win the Scottish Junior Cup for the only time in our history.

Resilience has been a trademark of Gordon Moffat’s Clydebank side of today as he seeks to become only the third manager in the modern era to win a league title for the club following in the footsteps of Bill Munro and Budgie McGhie. That resilience was needed today as it was all a bit Jekyll and Hyde.

In the first half we played like the champions-elect that we surely are. We raced into what seemed like an unassailable two goal lead, however in the last half-hour we looked tired and just a bit jaded for the first time this season.

Hurlford fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table, looked sharper and hungrier and with an attack featuring the likes of Lewis Morrison, Paul McKenzie and Kris Kerr it is hard to believe they are in the position they find themselves in.

They pulled a goal back in the 64th minute through Kerr, when he latched onto a McKenzie through pass. Leishman did well to save from close range, but the ball ricocheted off the striker and into the net.

It was Kerr who had the Ford’s best chance of an equaliser, when our defence stood by uncharacteristically as a cross to the left hand near post was met by the substitute, but Leishman was well placed to block with his legs.

The Bankies were slack in possession, slow in the tackle, and were holding on a little too much for my liking in the latter part of the match. This was in stark contrast to the first half when we were all over it.

The opening goal was scored from a corner after just three minutes when David Syme headed the ball to the far post and Ciaran Mulcahy was on hand to nod in from close range.

The Bankies were looking threatening with every attack, and great joy was being found down the right wing particularly with the ball over the top. Mulcahy ran onto a great through ball by Nicky Little, but his attempted lob landed on the roof of the net.

It was a similar effort from a similar area that doubled the Bankies lead after 20 minutes. Another ball over the top saw Nicky Little beaten to an aerial challenge by keeper O’Connor and it broke to Jimmy Grant out on the right wing. With great vision he lofted the ball over the top of defence in front of him and it took one bounce before entering the goal.

There were several other opportunities to score what would have been the killer third goal, but the inability to do so left the door open for Hurlford’s attempted comeback. It was James Grant’s miss after 55 minutes that signalled the change in the match. Had Grant scored when he burst through from a suspiciously offside position and sent the ball wide, then the game would have been over. But that let off meant the game was still alive.

Gordon Moffat’s substitutions of Black, Hodge and McGonigle did stem the tide towards the Bankies goal at the end to a certain degree, and Dean Cairns had a great opportunity to finish it off in stoppage time from a breakaway. However, he opted to shoot first time from the edge of the box when he had more than enough time to take a touch, and the ball scooted narrowly past the post.

There are several players who have been integral to the side’s success this season, but one or two in particular have had to play week in week out due to a lack of cover mainly through injuries. We could do with Nicky Low coming back soon to take some of the pressure off Dean Cairns who looked weary towards the end of the game. Other than that, it was difficult to pick a man of the match due to the way the second half panned out. Jimmy Grant was back to his best today, and Ciaran Mulcahy and Chris McGowan had good first half performances.

We are back at it again on Tuesday as we have a busy fortnight ahead of us. Troon who lost heavily at home to Drumchapel today are in the last chance saloon when they come to Holm Park. Anything other than a win will mean the end of their lingering title challenge. If the Bankies can rouse themselves one more time, then the opportunity to open a nineteen point gap would have us with one hand on the trophy.

Match report written by Stuart McBay