Ayr Utd 2
Clydebank 1
League (Division 1)

Match Report

A thrilling second half fightback from Bankies couldn't disguise the fact that the damage was done by two dreadful defensive mistakes inside the first 20 minutes.

Although Ayr were fortunate to survive a barrage of late attacks, they sit proudly in second spot in the league, thanks to the two simplest goals they'll score all season.

The first, after six minutes, was a personal tragedy for Jim Gallacher. he made a mess of a punch which left him stranded yards from goal. Christie's overhead kick beat Jim Fallon and Derek Frye headed into an empty net.

Goal No. 2 summed up Clydebank's first half. They got themselves in a mess in the box and man of the match Christie had time to round Gallacher and score off the underside of the bar.

Even as early as that 19th-minute goal, Bankies were as good as buried. Forty-five minutes of stumbling, bumbling play left them too high a mountain to climb.

Led by the often brilliant Gerry Ronald, however, they did their best after the break, and almost made it.

Only five minutes into the half, the little winger stole in on to a Coyne head flick and knocked the ball under Rennie's diving body. After that he inspired Bankies as they pinned Ayr back for long periods.

But the equaliser was not to be. A Tom Coyne shot from a brilliant Treanor cross was as near as they came, although Treanor himself was unlucky to see a fierce shot hit Blair Millar and rebound clear.

It was a second half full of end-to-end football, with both sides coming close time after time. Ayr had the most dangerous player afield in Gerry Christie, a winger who could have scored at least a hat-trick.

But the thrills of that second period aside, it was in the first 20 minutes that Bankies were doomed to yet another failure against one of their promotion rivals.

The sad fact is that in eight 'clashes with the First Division's top five sides, Motherwell, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Hearts and St. Johnstone, Bankies have picked up only five points.

That, at the end of the day, may prove more than anything else to be their downfall.