Clydebank 2
East Stirlingshire 0
League (Division 1)

Match Report

Young Campbell McKeown, making only his second first team appearance, put Bankies on the road to victory at Kilbowie on Saturday with a superb goal.

After he replaced the injured Gerry McCabe in the 30th minute the home men showed stability and an appetite for goals - factors that have been missing from their play for many months.

But Saturday also marked the formation of a new striking partnership in Blair Millar and David Jones.

Millar was bang on form and was stretching the limits of his capabilities thanks to his fellow attacker's intelligent ball play.

Jones, a new face at Clydebank, is an exciting prospect and had a hand in both goals.

He was in action after only nine minutes when he floated the ball to Millar in the middle but 'keeper Kelly held well.

In the 18th minute a Dave Houston 20-yard drive went narrowly over the top.

Houston and Millar worked a beautiful one-two a minute later and Kelly stretched to hold Houston's shot.

East Stirling, on one of their few attacks, failed to make the most of a good chance when Robertson latched on to a clever Lamont lob in front of goal. But Jim Gallacher was equal to the striker's weak shot.

At the other end Kelly's outstretched leg prevented Millar, on a solo run, putting the home side into the lead.

Again Kelly produced heroics in the 25th minute when his body blocked a Jim Given effort from close range.

Jones, on the right, sent a glorious cross to Houston who stroked the ball to Millar in the clear. But Kelly brought off a spectacular save.

Then McCaig was booked for arguing with the referee.

In 44 minutes a Robertson free kick was collected by Lamont outside the box and his low drive was held by Gallacher.

Almost on half-time McKeown put Bankies ahead. Millar took the ball from Jones and fired a low cross along the 18-yard line which the teenager brilliantly first-timed home.

In the second half a super Given angular shot from the edge of the box was magnificently parried over the bar by the 'keeper.

Houston chipped a neat ball to Jones in the area but his clever back-heel failed to out-fox the visitors' defence.

Millar struck the killer blow in the 59th minute. Given worked his way upfield and laid off to Jones. He sent an enticing lob into Millar's path and the centre forward blasted a screaming volley into the corner of the net.

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How the other side saw it
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An East Stirling side who travelled minus four key players and their manager had no reply for a Clydebank outfit who are currently enjoying an end of season revival.

Shire were decimated by the loss of regular central defenders Donald Watt and Ian Rennie and front runners Jackie Goodall and Alex Grant and in the view of these setbacks the game followed a predictable pattern.

With the Bankies taking command it was left to Shire keeper Charlie Kelly to defy the home side with a string of superb saves.

The Firs Parkers had their moments with Dave McCaig keeping the home defence on their toes, but he was left to plough a lone furrow up front.

In the 44th minute Shire were denied a strong penalty claim when the referee judged that a foul had taken place on the 18 yard line and not inside the box. Bobby McCulley made a poor attempt at the free-kick-and Bankies raced away to score.

Fallon outstripped the Shire defence and set up the chance for young substitute McKEOWN who struck an 18-yard drive well out of Kelly's reach.

Another youngster, Dave Jones, was proving to be a handful for the Shire and as he inspired the home side it was only the brilliance of Kelly which kept them at bay.

However Bankies increased their lead 12 minutes into the second half when MILLAR fired home, giving the keeper no chance.

The Shire fans who travelled through would not begrudge their admission money only for the fact that they were treated to a display of magnificent goalkeeping from Kelly.