Clydebank 2
Hearts B 2
League (Lowland League)

Match Report

Clydebank used their get out of jail free card to scrape a stoppage time equaliser against a young Hearts B team to secure a draw at Holm Park this afternoon and maintain the unbeaten start to the league campaign.

Despite managing to rescue a point, it was a difficult afternoon for the Bankies who quite possibly turned in their poorest performance of the season. We had an issue a couple of seasons back, where there was a clear discrepancy between our home and away displays and we seem to be falling into that pattern again, and this will need to be resolved quickly if we want to continue challenging Linlithgow Rose for the title.

Anyone who thought the Lowland League would be a piece of cake haven’t been watching closely enough. The Bankies experience and street-smarts are carrying the day against many of our younger opponents, but the coaching levels are of a much higher standard than the West of Scotland League, and I believe we are still trying to adjust to the contrast in styles.

None of the Hearts squad (who played) were over the age of 19 and the starting eleven had two sixteen-year-olds in their ranks. It was therefore a bit of a surprise to see how physical they were and even more so was the Clydebank players difficulty in coming to terms with it. Being an Academy side, they were obviously well briefed and their marshalling of Keir Samson’s running and the neutering of Matt Niven at set pieces was plain to see.

One of things that the Bankies players have to overcome is the notion that we have a target on our back. Not so much because of who we are, but the opposition reacting positively to the playing environment. The Lowland League is generally poorly supported, and many matches have crowds of 100 or less and can feel quite sterile, but Holm Park is regularly hosting attendances seven or eight times that amount and away teams are lifting their performances in the atmosphere.

The Hearts youngsters were certainly enjoying themselves when they scored twice in the opening twenty minutes. The crowd were also stunned as the Jambos had only won once in nine matches and hadn’t won any of their last six.

The first was a calamity for Chris McGowan who dithered in possession after just five minutes and was robbed by Tommy North. The forward was left with just Owen Stott to beat and he did it in style by rifling the ball into the bottom corner,

There is no doubt the Bankies defence felt the loss of the injured David Syme who missed his first ever match since joining the club. We were lacking a little bit of organisation at the back and Hearts took full advantage when Connor Dow delivered a fine cross from the right wing which Taylor Hogarth met at the back post to send the ball into the net.

In between the goals, Keir Samson did have the ball in the net from a clearly offside position, diverting an Aaron Black shot home; a shot which may just have sneaked in without a touch. Other than that, It really took until the last fifteen minutes of the half before we started to trouble the Hearts defence.

Black shot straight at the keeper when the ball broke kindly for him in the box, Kier Samson twice tried his luck from acute angles, the second of which should shave been squared across the box, and Nicky Little missed the best chance of all when he didn’t make a good enough connection with a header and the Hearts keeper saved easily.

We have now only scored three first half goals in five league games at home, and once again we seem to need the half time break to sort ourselves out.

Two goals down at the restart we needed an early goal to have any chance of a comeback,and it was duly delivered after 51 minutes. The Dubious Goals Panel alongside AI analysis have concluded that Nicky Little’s shot from Aaron Black’s cutback was on-target and in accordance with guidance he should be credited with the goal.

(edit: The ref has incorrectly awarded the goal as an own goal, so we must go with the official record unfortunately)

Despite always being on top, pressure was not sustained by the Bankies and tended to come in fits and starts. Too many bad decisions were being made at critical moments. Good positions weren’t being converted into goalscoring chances, and sometimes you wonder if every moan and groan from the terraces can affect the Bankies players negatively as much as it energises the opposition.

The introduction of Jimmy Grant really helped give us some forward impetus down the left hand side, and it was down that flank that the real flashpoint of the match occurred when Gregor Crookston scythed down Nicky Low in the 72nd minute. It was a crude and unnecessary challenge that could have resulted in a serious injury and the reaction of the players suggested the severity was every bit as bad as it looked from the terraces.

Crookston was ordered off and one or two others were lucky not to have suffered a similar fate as an all out brawl was only marginally averted.

The Bankies pressed for the remainder of the match, but the loss of Ciaran Mulcahy with a suspected broken nose just minutes after coming on was another blow in an injury-laden season. A Matt Niven header from a corner that clipped the crossbar was the closest we came to a clear chance.

The lengthy stoppage for Low’s injury meant eight minutes of added time, and the reward came halfway through. Angered by the assault, Low delivered the assist, driving the ball across the box for Neil McLaughlin to steer home at the back post.

The eleventh-hour equaliser extended the unbeaten league run to ten games. While there is cause to be happy, cracks are showing. Linlithgow are relentless, much as we were last season, and the pressure to stay in touch is intensifying.

Outside of the Tranent and Civil Service Strollers games—our best performances—every other match has been testing. Next week offers no respite, with a Scottish Cup first-round tie away at Jeanfield Swifts, leaders of the East of Scotland League. The Scottish Cup brings financial rewards and exposure, underlining the importance of progressing. It will require an improved performance from the Bankies.

(edit: Kai Smutek was dismissed for gesturing to the crowd after the final whistle)

Match report written by Stuart McBay