Dunfermline 2
Clydebank 1
League (Division 1)

Match Report

A hat-trick of defeats by Dunfermline this season has left Clydebank staring relegation in the face.

The third came at a cold and dreary East End Park on Wednesday night when Bankies were outplayed by the Fifers who struck twice through Sandy McNaughton.

Playing some sparkling football, the home side attacked throughout the 90 minutes and should have won more convincingly.

Clydebank, for their part, put up a brave show but the strain of relegation is there for all to see as Bankies strive for their first league win since December.

And to add to their misery, Jim Given missed a 57th minute penalty which would have earned a share of the spoils.

Dunfermline were forced to make several changes before the match, but they played with verve and spirit, and never looked like letting Bankies off the hook.

It looked a dour relegation battle in the opening minutes, with both sides testing the opposing defences. But the breakthrough came after only nine minutes.

Wilson sent Athletic's Sandy McNaughton through and the big striker beat the frail offside trap with ease. 'Keeper Gallacher raced from his line, but McNaughton cooly lobbed him from just inside the penalty area.

With the home side in front Bankies fought and bustled as they tried to find a chink in the home defence.

But it was the Fife side who always looked capable of adding to their early lead to make it another night of misery for the Kilbowie men.

The second goal was a killer. It came three minutes before the interval and shattered what little confidence Clydebank had. Dunfermline won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area and when Mercer floated the ball towards goal the defence watched as McNaughton raced in. The striker slipped his second goal past Gallacher for what looked an unassailable lead at that stage of the game.

But Dunfermline hadn't accounted for Clydebank's fighting spirit and the visitors started the second half with a bang. Bankies won a corner two minutes into the half and Gerry McCabe's measured cross had the home defence stranded. Big Blair Millar strode in to fire a header past Whyte and give Clydebank a faint glimmer of hope.

With their tails up the Kilbowie side hammered at the Dunfermline defence and their persistence was rewarded after 57 minutes. Millar, homing in on goal, was sent tumbling by Hutt and Jim Given was given the job of salvaging at least a point. But Dunfermline's 'keeper Whyte brilliantly saved his shot to keep the home side in front.

The save seemed to knock the stuffing out of Clydebank and the Fifers turned on the style for the East End support. This defeat leaves Bankies precariously near the bottom and, although they have games in hand, they must be worried. While the other relegation candidates are picking up points, Bankies nose-dive form could soon leave them stranded at the foot of the table.