Clydebank 3
East Fife 1
League (Division 2)

Match Report

East Fife’s undefeated League record came to an abrupt halt at Clydebank last Wednesday when slack defensive play and poor finishing cost them two valuable League points against the home side.

The Fifers were perhaps unfortunate to be beaten but Clydebank took the chances offered and notched the goals that counted.

Bobby Waddell returned to the side after several games on the sidelines as a result of a foot injury and Johnny Lawlor was at inside-left in place of Kinsella, who was listed as 12th man.

But it was an unimpressive display by East Fife despite the fact that they had most of the play. They missed several good chances in the early stages that could have settled the issue and there was a generally lethargic air about their play during the first half.

The pace was slow, and the East Fife front row were unable to finish off promising moves when they were built up while behind them the defence was slack and not nearly as steady as it has been in past weeks.

And it was a defensive blunder in the 36th minute that cost the Fifers a goal. Doug Soutar seemed to be caught in two minds trying to clear a high ball in the penalty area and he only half cleared it to the feet of Baxter and the winger gave McGann no chance from close in.

East Fife hit back immediately and Clydebank 'keeper Madden was a busy man for a spell, but the Fifers attack was poor, and several fine chances were thrown aside as a result of poor finishing.

With the second half only two minutes old there was another shock for the visitors when Moore scored a clever goal for Clydebank and the Fifers were really un against it.

The Fifers continued to throw everything at Madden but could not open their account. They were not helped by the fact that the ball was not breaking for them and it was not until the 22nd minute that they managed. to break through.

Johnny Lawlor was the man who scored the goal. He rose to a Nelson cross and cleverly nodded. the ball past Madden to put the Fifers back in the game.

It looked only a matter of time before the equaliser would come. but the home defence staved firm helped by two hair- line offside decisions that chalked off two goals as the Fifers bombarded the Clydebank goal.

With only three minutes left for play Johnny Lawlor had a good effort cleared on the goal line by McAleer with the 'keeper

beaten, but the Fifers failed to get the elusive equaliser.

In the dying seconds Moore headed his Own second and Clydebank's third goal to put the issue beyond doubt.

It was a result that a little more than flattered the home side and was not really a fair reflection of the game as a whole but in the final analysis the team that scores the goals wins and on Wednesday Clydebank were better equipped in that department than the Fifers.

The defeat must be a serious setback to the Fifers promotion prospects particularly when it is coupled to the point lost at home. to Dumbarton and the Bayview men will have to regain their scoring touch if they are still to be taken as serious promotion prospects.

Teams:-

Match report taken from the Leven Mail