Clydebank 1
Dunfermline 0
League (Division 1)

Match Report

A superb Gerry McCabe goal salvaged something from a miserable match played in near-Arctic conditions.

Until his 78th minute winner, the major talking point at Kilbowie on Saturday was a linesman's reappearance for the second half wearing thick tracksuit trousers. Perhaps a good match was too much to expect. McCabe's vicious shot was only Bankies' second goal in seven games and highlighted their chronic scoring headache.

But with Clydebank having put 12 goals past Dunfermline in three previous encounters this season, the 460 who bothered to turn up must have anticipated some badly-needed goals.

Bobby Williamson, who has impressed since his recent promotion to the first team, was pushed up front to play alongside Tommy Coyne in the absence of the suspended Blair Miller. And Frank Lynch made his debut at the back in place of captain Jim Fallon, out with a virus.

The weather didn't help much, alternating from bright sunshine to driving snow and hailstones, which did much to dampen the little enthusiasm the players seemed to have.

Bankies had most of the early pressure and should have taken the lead but for that finishing. problem.

Jim Given shot just over the bar with the first chance of the game after 10 minutes before Williamson was handed a gift by Athletic's Hamill. He should have scored with ease, but delayed his shot too long and had the ball whisked off his foot by Doug Considine, playing with the same assurance he once showed with Aberdeen.

Williamson's striking partner Coyne had a glaring miss. minutes later, heading into the side net when it looked easier to score from Gerry Ronald's well-flighted corner.

Despite this early pressure, Bankies fell out of the game, which deteriorated into a deadly dull series of mishit passes and wild shots.

Bowie caught the eye with some fine runs and crosses, only for his Dunfermline team mates to pass up the scoring chances. But Bankies had a let-off when McCathie hit the post from six yards with 'keeper Jim Gallacher well beaten and the defence caught wrong-footed by Morrison's swirling cross.

As the game became more bogged down in midfield, the enthusiastic McCabe was booked by referee Hugh Young, presumably for talking out of turn. Dunfermline's McCathie was also booked in the same incident.

As the hailstones came down more heavily, the linesman appeared wearing his natty tracksuit and the game settled into the same dull routine.

Until McCabe's winner 12 minutes from time, the only flashes of action were from referee Young, who showed the yellow card to Williamson and Dunfermline's Hamill, both for late tackles.

With some of the fans already having left for the warmth of their homes, McCabe popped up on the edge of the penalty are to slam a shot through a crowd of players and past the diving Whyte.

With five minutes left, Dunfermline had an incredible miss, when McCathie drove against the post from only six yards. The ball skidded along the line, bounced off Gallacher's leg and rolled back across the face of the goal before being cleared.

Despite the atrocious conditions Bankies disappointed their fans again with a half-hearted performance, lacking in both ideas and basic skill.

Debut boy Lynch played solidly at the back, playing himself out of some difficult situations. Some of his older colleagues should take note, for too many of them were prepared to hit the ball back to Gallacher when a little thought could have set up an attacking move.

After scoring 12 goals against Dunfermline this season, this was rather a pardon the pun - below-Par performance from Clydebank.