Dundee 2
Clydebank 3
League (1st Division)

Match Report

The midnight oils burned late down the Clyde last night as Clydebank supporters celebrated their side's promotion to next season's Premier Division.

For in last night's decider at Dens Park the pre-season outsiders from Kilbowie Park registered their finest hour in finally bringing to an end Dundee's challenge in the promotion race.

Apart, of course, from their three crucial goal-scorers the Bankies should strike a special promotion medal to goalkeeper Jim Gallacher who performed miracles, to keep his side in a game they often looked to be throwing away.

The keeper was absolutely incredible at times in foiling a home attack which carried out their pre match instructions of "shoot on sight" to the letter.

And even the disappointed home fans in the 8707 attendance rose along with his Clydebank team-mates, to applaud the keeper off the field at the end of a glory night.

Against all pre-match forecasts Clydebank went forward from the start and it paid off in only three minutes. A free kick against McPhail on Larnach was driven home by centre half, MCLAUGHLIN from 25 yards off the underside of the bar.

Inspired by an on-form Davie Cooper the visitors might have gone further ahead when Larnach put it wide from only three yards after Donaldson had mishandled a McCallan effort.

But in 14 minutes Cooper did it for his side with a tremendous right wing thrust which ended with an angled drive being parried by Donaldson only into the path of Joe McCALLAN, who netted easily.

Gallacher's night of glory began in the 25th minute with a brilliant save from Ford and he again kept his score sheet clean with a brilliant double save from Phillip and Pirie.

And again the keeper excelled himself in the minutes preceding the interval with another wonder stop from a Robinson thunderbolt.

Five minutes after the break it looked all over for the home men when Clydebank went three up.

And what a great goal it was. Billy McCOLL cut inside the home left flank and from 20 yards he lashed a tremendous left foot shot high past. Donaldson

Tommy Gemmell was booked for a crude tackle on Cooper before Gallacher again brought the crowd to their feet with another great save from a Strachan angled volley. But the home side kept plugging away and after Billy Pirie had wasted a great chance in 63 minutes the home side finally got one back despite Gallacher's brilliance.

Fourteen minutes from the end a Strachan cross from the right was met by Hutchinson six yards out and his glance beat the keeper and went in at the far post. And Dens Park went alight seven minutes from the end when Dundee made it 3-2. Again Gallacher was involved when brilliantly blocking Robinson's effort but the ball rebounded to FORD whose shot was deflected by a defender under the crossbar.

In the dying minutes Clydebank's Hay was booked for a foul on Strachan