East Fife 0
Clydebank 6
League (1st Division)

Match Report

Bankies skated to victory at frozen Bayview when a super hat-trick by Mike Larnach enabled them to slay bottom of the league East Fife and return to their rightful place at the top

Billy McColl replaced Gerry Ronald in an otherwise unchanged team but as they kicked off one wondered why the pitch was any more playable than many of the grounds where the matches had been cancelled.

Bankies did not seem too concerned and while the home side were trying to find their feet the first goal arrived. Jimmy Lumsden started the move with a square ball to Billy McColl and his cross along the 18 yard line was met first time by Tommy Callaghan, whose shot exploded into the net giving McGarr no chance.

In the 10th minute the game was virtually over as Bankies went two Up. Gregor Abel sent a long ball down the middle and as Barry slithered in the snow Mike Larnach raced in on McGarr and slotted the ball into the net from 10 yards.

The home side had no answer and McGarr saved his side when he brilliantly turned a Cooper header round the post. However in the 24th minute the keeper was a villain when he failed to hold a Davie Cooper 25 yard drive and the ball dropped into the net for Bankies third.

With 10 minutes remaining of the first half the home side at last gave their shivering fans something to cheer about when Low and Hegarty broke on the right. The latter's cross found Young in a shooting position but his effort was blocked by Norrie Hall.

Bankies really rubbed salt in the Fifers wounds just before the break when Jimmy Lumsden won the ball in midfield and sent Davie Cooper free on the left. He ran 20 yards unchallenged before hammering in a shot that McGarr could only parry and Joe McCallan ran the rebound into the empty net.

The fact that only another two goals were added in the second period seemed insignificant as the Bankies outplayed the demoralised Fifers. Only great goalkeeping by McGarr robbed Billy McColl of a couple of well-deserved goals but even he could do little to prevent Mike Larnach from completing a fine hat-trick

Mike's second and Bankies' fifth arrived in the 50th minute when hesitancy in the home defence following a Cooper corner was severely punished by the eagle eyed striker who dragged the ball away from Barry and crashed his shot behind McGarr.

Then his moment of glory arrived in the 68th minute when he completed his hat-trick. Billy McColl, who had a fine match, started the move with a pass to Jimmy Lumsden and the Bankies skipper (I wish his critics had seen his performance) sent a perfect through ball for the running Mike Larnach to collect and chip over he advancing McGarr into the far corner of the net.

Following this lan Browning replaced Joe McCallan and he came close to scoring on a couple of occasions. No more goals came and Bankies were happy to settle for six which was their best ever away performance and their second highest ever win.