Clydebank 2
Drumchapel Utd 1
League (WoSFL Premier)

Match Report

The Bankies took another huge step towards the league title as Drumchapel United were defeated 2-1 at Holm Park this afternoon. It was probably the worst we have played all season – with the exception of the St Rochs cup game, but somehow, we managed to get it over the line.

Even when we don’t play well, we win! Incredibly we have won seven league games in a row (in 25 days) for the second time this season and are now undefeated in all 24 matches. This is turning out to be the season to end all seasons and the chances are we’ll never see anything like it ever again, so drink it in and absorb every last moment.

The winner couldn’t have been in a more dramatic fashion either, as Ciaran Mulcahy’s close range header deep into stoppage time sent Holm Park in to raptures of joy. The conditions had been horrendous all day with sheets of rain and a cross field wind making it difficult for both sides, and I would say most would have been happy to accept a point and keep the unbeaten season intact, however this team does not know when to give up.

Drumchapel must take a huge amount of credit from this game and if they were ‘pure bealin’ at the 4-0 hammering they received in February from the Bankies at home, then they will be incandescent with rage at how this turned out.

At the Donald Dewar Centre, they sat in against us and hoped to use their fast transitions into counter attacks, however the loss of the first goal sent them into an irretrievable spiral. Today it was a different story as they started with McCoist up front and played star man Hopkirk in a more withdrawn role. They were much more aggressive and pressed hard against a Clydebank side playing their eighth game of the month.

Clydebank struggled to get their passing going in the first half, and some uncharacteristic mistakes in the defence were giving Drumchapel some clear shots at goal. Kieran Moore should have scored at least one goal in the opening twenty minutes. The first was a mistake by Grant that allowed McGarvey the chance to pull the ball back for Moore at the back post, but he was denied by a great save from Leishman.

Leishman was called into action again from the same player, when Syme and Grant appeared to get in each other’s way. The Bankies keeper was back to his best when he stopped the forwards shot on his left-hand side.

Other than a couple of corners, the Bankies had barely threatened, but went on to take the lead from the penalty spot after 21 minutes. Nicky Little was brought down just inside the box by Kevin Nicoll who should have known better than to make such a reckless challenge. Little made no mistake from the spot to net his 27th of the season, just one shy of his best ever total for the club.

Clydebank continued to struggle to impose themselves on the game despite the wind largely being in their favour. Other than a Mulcahy shot on the turn, which was blocked, the main threat was at the other end. Moore almost rounded Leishman on one occasion and Hopkirk brought out a fine save from the Leisman at his near post as Drumchapel looked the more likely.

It was no real surprise when The Drum equalised after 37 minutes, and it came from another mistake, this time from McHugh who allowed Moore to get past him, and this time he managed to find the net. Clydebank did manage to find a response almost immediately when Black headed wide from a hooked Dean Cairns cross, but we reached the break with the scores even.

The second half followed much the same pattern, and you wondered whether the visitors could keep up this level of intensity. The Clydebank defence continued to make too many mistakes with perhaps young Carey having his more challenging game yet. The experience of Hodge who replaced Grant at half time did seem to shore up that side of the pitch, and he does offer an attacking outlet on that wing as well. You do have to take the conditions into account, and it would be unfair to be critical after the season this unit have had,

There were one or two hold your breath moments, but Clydebank slowly but surely started to create some chances for themselves on the break. Lee Gallacher twice had shots at goal from near identical positions but failed to hit the target on both occasions. Nicky Little also had a couple of shots on goal. The first was a weak effort from inside the box which at least made the keeper produce a save. The second saw the skipper race through with a defender on his tail. He tried to shoot across the keeper, but his left footed shot slipped wide of the goal.

There seemed to be a groundswell building in the last ten minutes of the match as Drumchapel began to fade as an attacking force. There was incredible moment when Clydebank had three shots in under ten seconds. It all started when Crawford palmed out a Craig Truesdale shot. Nicky Little slid in ahead of a defender to reach the rebound, but the keeper managed to get in the way again. The ball broke loose for Nicky Low, but once more Crawford showed great reactions to stop a goal for the third time.

With three minutes of stoppage time played, the game looked to be heading for a stalemate, until Cairns looped a hopeful ball into the box. There didn’t seem to be a massive amount of danger as Mulcahy nodded down for Hodge. The full back facing away from goal, hooked the ball over his shoulder and as it fell from the sky, Mulcahy followed it all the way and leapt majestically to thunder the ball home with his head.

The celebrations by players and management and fans alike evinced the significance of the moment. It was like the recognition by everyone that this was the time where we all knew for certain that we are going to win the league. The final whistle brought more partying between the players and fans, and we now know we can lift the title as early as next week if we win and Johnstone Burgh lose at Cumnock.

For the first time in several weeks, I’m struggling to pick a man of the match as I don’t think anybody had a particularly outstanding game. Defensively, Leishman did his job well and Syme was probably the best of the defenders. I’m going to give it to Ciaran Mulcahy as it was his moment that won the game, and it will be the one thing that is talked about when this game is remembered in the future.

So, next week we travel to struggling Benburb. We’ve lost to the Ben’s at New Tinto Park the last two times at their ground and Nicky Little has never scored against them. It is time to set these matters straight. Rangers are at home to Hibs next Saturday, but we all know where the big game in Govan is being played next week. The Bankies are sure to travel in large numbers so make sure you get there early enough especially if you’re driving.

Match report written by Stuart McBay