Match Report
Clydebank’s rich vein of form continued with a resounding four-nil victory over Largs Thistle at Holm Park this afternoon. The Theesel were expected to give the Bankies one of their sternest tests so far, having lost just one league game this season, but they were sent back down the Ayrshire coast with their tails between their legs.
This was a different kind of puzzle for Gordon Moffat to solve. In past meetings between the clubs, Stuart Davidson has had his Largs players wound up to come out of the traps with energy and resolve, but strangely we never really saw much of that today from the Ayrshire outfit.
They were passive in the opening stages, allowing Clydebank to control the ball, and crucially they lost a goal in this period. They did play their way into the game in the first half, but they created very little, and for extended periods they seemed quite happy to allow Clydebank to have the ball. There was a distinct lack of an active press, and the energy you associate with Largs was conspicuous by its absence.
From Clydebank’s point of view, we scored goals at just the right times. The second and third goals came either side of half-time, but for Largs it was the complete opposite. Conceding the third goal just four minutes after the restart was a disaster, as Davidson had made three half-time substitutions, which in itself showed exactly what the Largs gaffer made of their first-half performance.
From that moment onwards, the Bankies retreated into game-management mode, and Largs belatedly attempted to inject some bite and needle into proceedings. In fairness, we had Andy Leishman to thank on a couple of occasions with crucial stops. However, the defence were excellent all round again, and Scott Forrester looks like he has been in situ for two years, never mind two games. A first clean sheet in the league was long overdue, and it was well earned.
Defensively, we are now starting to shake off some of the nervousness that surrounded the players in the early part of the season, and we now look completely balanced in all areas of the pitch.
The Bankies had gone ahead from the penalty spot after just seven minutes, and it was truly a “moment of madness” by Jamie Martin. The ball was heading out of play for a goal kick, and it was debatable whether Oisin McHugh was even going to catch it. Chasing behind, Martin brought the Bankies defender down. It may have been a tangle of legs, but the Largs player instigated it, and Gary Hanvidge rightly pointed to the spot.
After two recent misses by Nicky Low, the penalty duties passed back to Neil McLaughlin, who finished into the keeper’s bottom right corner.
Largs should have been given a mountain to climb shortly afterwards when Blair Rossiter burst through the visitors’ defence. Despite being under pressure, Rossiter picked out Leslie on his own, and he struck his shot first time with his left foot into the side netting when he really should have scored.
As the game settled down, Largs became more involved but struggled to create anything. A header by Blair Devine from a corner kick, which looped over the crossbar, was about as close as they got.
At times, Clydebank had extraordinary levels of possession. Patience was the key, as Largs seemed reluctant to break their shape and press, thus creating a bit of a stalemate. Thistle may have stemmed the attacks towards their goal, but it just meant they posed no threat themselves.
It was a gamble that didn’t pay off as the Bankies extended the lead a few minutes before the break. Defensively, Largs were found wanting again. Rossiter had a free-kick on the right-hand side near the corner flag. With everyone expecting a cross, he simply passed the ball along the ground into the box for the unmarked Neil McLaughlin. Sewell desperately tried to make up the ground, but it was too late as Neilly rifled the ball into the net.
Largs’ triple half-time substitution only took four minutes to be undone. The character and willingness to run in this Clydebank team was demonstrated as Matt Niven bust a gut to keep the ball in play, and he smartly found McLaughlin, who laid the ball off for Cairns at the edge of the box. His first-time strike was superbly saved by the fingertips of O’Connor, who tipped the ball onto the bar and out for a corner.
Blair Rossiter was about to chalk up his seventh assist of the season from the flag kick as his deep cross was headed home by Dom Docherty, who did well to hold off his marker.
With the game just about won, the Bankies no longer had to chase it and were able to pick off Largs on the break. However, after a fracas in the middle of the pitch which threatened to boil over, Largs found a bit of fight. Maybe this was the way they always wanted the game to go, but the Bankies never took them up on it.
It was during this spell that Leishman was called into action, but it always seemed that the Bankies had another gear and could find another goal. I would say it came from an unlikely source, but Oisin McHugh’s goal of the day was his fourth of the season, nearly doubling his career total.
Oisin picked up the ball in the centre circle and drove towards the away goal. He exchanged passes with McLaughlin, who played the ball into his path as he continued his run beyond the defence. The Bankies captain steadied himself and finished in style to complete the scoring.
This was a great win for the Bankies against a notoriously difficult opponent. We are now on a run of ten matches unbeaten, and the truly amazing record of scoring in 60 consecutive games was preserved. McHugh would be a worthy man of the match, but overall performance levels were so high that almost anyone could be a contender.
We continue this demanding schedule on Tuesday against Caley Braves, who have tailed off recently but are still a quality side, and then we welcome old rivals Pollok, who are unbeaten in the league, to Holm Park next Saturday. That is sure to be the highest attendance of the season thus far.
Match report written by Stuart McBay
