Match Report
Judging by Gretna’s league positions over the last few years, and their current results this season, anything other than a handsome victory for the Bankies would have been a major surprise.
The Bankies did turn up and scored seven times, though, in truth, had the scoreline gone into double figures Gretna would have had no complaints. It doesn’t always go that way, as the Bankies’ three-one win at Stoneyburn last week will testify. Sometimes the dominance doesn’t translate into goals.
In today’s game, the Bankies led by four at the break and for a while in the second half it looked like the additional goals weren’t going to come, as chance after chance was passed up. What made it worse at that point was a moment of slackness that allowed Gretna in behind our defence, with Galloway volleying home a Chapman cross. Stott did not look altogether convincing with the delivery either.
The goals finally came with a three-goal burst in the last fifteen minutes to secure the big win that we needed, though a clean sheet in the league remains elusive.
In terms of the gameplay, I’m not sure Clydebank could have played much better. Gretna were very poor, and the Bankies ruthlessly exposed their frailties at every opportunity. The passing, movement and every aspect of the Bankies’ play was outstanding, with only the finishing preventing a real cricket score.
There is no point dwelling on the missed chances too much, as anything over five goals is a great result.
For the record, the goals were as follows. The first after six minutes came from Kian Leslie, who scored his first goal for the club with a great left-footed volley from a Nicky Low cross.
The second was a soft penalty for handball. I’m a real advocate of having the handball rule changed. I’m not sure what the defender was supposed to do to avoid the ball hitting his hand at such close quarters. As the rules stand it is a penalty, and Nicky Low made it three from three from the spot on consecutive Saturdays.
Number three was a stunning volley from Chris McGowan, on his right foot as well. Gowser had only scored once in his previous 70 games for the club, so if he is scoring you know it’s a bad day. This was followed shortly by a disastrous attempt at clearing the ball, allowing McLaughlin, Low and Samson a clear run at the goalkeeper. McLaughlin had the ball and wasn’t giving it away as he slotted it past Aitchison.
Gretna got their goal after 51 minutes and the Bankies continued to pummel the away goal without further reward until the 74th minute, when McLaughlin controlled a Leslie cross with one touch before despatching the ball into the bottom corner.
Minutes later, the subs combined as a Nicky Little cross was smashed high into the net by Josh Jack for number six. Between goals six and seven, Luke McMurtrie was dismissed for pulling Ciaran Mulcahy’s shirt. The big centre half was lucky not to have been given a straight red for a really poor challenge on Nicky Low, so justice was seen to be done in the end.
The final goal was a cracker from Oisin McHugh, who first-timed the ball into the net from a Josh Jack set-up. Oisin has now scored in successive matches and this was already his third of the season, taking his career total to eight.
There were a number of outstanding performances on the pitch this afternoon, and some of the football was top drawer at times. Despite the level of the opposition, this will do the players’ confidence no harm at all.
Kian Leslie continues to make an impression, though like all wingers he sometimes dips out of the game. Neil McLaughlin and Nicky Low were, well, Neil McLaughlin and Nicky Low. Oisin McHugh, however, was dynamic throughout and was a worthy man of the match in my book.
Our attention now turns to the second round of matches in the Challenge Cup, and we face SPFL opposition in the shape of Kelty Hearts at New Central Park on Tuesday. Their form has been up and down so far, but much better at home. The Bankies can go there with some measure of confidence and belief that we can achieve a positive result.
Match report written by Stuart McBay
