Match Report
Clydebank continued their excellent start to the KDM Evolution Trophy with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over St Mirren B at Holm Park, a result which strengthened their position inside the top six seeded places with two league phase matches remaining.
Having already beaten Hibernian B and Kelty Hearts before drawing with Alloa Athletic, the Bankies knew this would be another significant test against a talented group of full-time youngsters. Gordon Moffat later described St Mirren as possibly the strongest side Clydebank had faced in the competition so far, and there were certainly spells when the visitors showed why.
They took the lead after only four minutes through a superb individual goal from Struan Thomson. Picking the ball up inside his own half, the youngster drove forward and left a succession of Clydebank players in his wake before rounding Owen Stott and rolling the ball into the empty net.
It was a goal of real quality, although Moffat was understandably less impressed with the defending that allowed Thomson to travel so far unchallenged.
St Mirren continued to threaten and Innes Clark headed against the crossbar from a free-kick, but Clydebank gradually settled into the contest. Oisin McHugh and Matt Niven both had half-chances before Aidan Callaghan produced the Bankies’ best effort of the opening period, turning smartly and forcing Tamosevicius to tip his shot over the bar.
At the other end, Stott produced an important double save after Laverty elected to shoot rather than pass. The Bankies keeper blocked the initial effort before reacting quickly to deny Francis from a difficult angle.
The second half developed into an entertaining contest. Francis fired narrowly wide from distance with Stott beaten, while Blair Rossiter replied for Clydebank with a shot that Tamosevicius pushed away to his right.
Stott was called upon again when Sule nutmegged Scott Forrester and drove into the area, but the goalkeeper spread himself well to block with his legs.
Clydebank were now growing into the game, and the equaliser arrived after 66 minutes following a wonderful piece of interplay between Rossiter and Josh Jack inside the penalty area. Jack’s deft touch created the opening, and Rossiter fired high into the net to make it 1-1.
With the Bankies sensing an opportunity, top scorer Neil McLaughlin was introduced, and inevitably it was he who grabbed the winner. The goal itself was one of the best team moves of the season, with every Clydebank player touching the ball before Kieran Dolan whipped a dangerous cross into the box for McLaughlin to head home from close range.
St Mirren did not give up and Clydebank had to dig in during the closing stages as tiredness began to show, but the Bankies held firm to secure another impressive result.
After four matches, Clydebank remain unbeaten in the competition and occupy one of the valuable seeded positions. A trip to East Fife comes next before the league phase concludes with the long-awaited derby against Dumbarton at Holm Park.
Whatever happens from here, the Bankies have already shown that they are more than capable of competing at this level.
Match report written by Stuart McBay
