Clydebank 0
Montrose 2
League (Division 2)

Match Report

A woeful display from Clydebank saw them slump to a disappointing defeat at the hands of Montrose. The visitors, by no means a world-beater themselves, capitalised on a string of Clydebank errors to claim a comfortable victory.

One can only speculate if the Bankies' tough Scottish Cup run against Queen of the South took its toll. Whatever the reason, their attacking play was woefully disjointed, with numerous missed opportunities. The lone bright spark was 17-year-old Jimmy Caskie, son of the former Everton and Rangers player. Young Caskie displayed exceptional ball control and passing, a clear talent for the future.

Clydebank's defence also looked shaky, sorely missing the influence of veteran Ernie Collumbine. John Baxter, deputising at left-half, put in a valiant effort, but the backline lacked cohesion overall. Eddie Moore's tendency to wander out of position and Malcolm Henderson's apparent lack of fitness further hampered the defence.

The first 20 minutes were a nightmare for Clydebank. They were completely outplayed, with Montrose taking the lead within three minutes through a defensive lapse by Henderson. The visitors continued to exploit the space afforded to their attacking trio of Dickson, Rooney, and Harris.

The closest Clydebank came to scoring in the first half was through a series of near misses. Davie Mitchell rattled the upright with a powerful shot, and Tony Moy nearly connected with a flying header. However, these glimpses of hope faded as the half progressed.

The second half saw a similar pattern emerge. Bankies came close again through Stan King, but Montrose capitalised on another defensive error in the 58th minute, with Dickson doubling the lead.

Despite the introduction of Arthur Paterson for Eddie Jenkins in the 65th minute, Clydebank couldn't find a way back into the game. Montrose continued to threaten, with Baxter making a crucial last-ditch clearance to deny a certain goal.

Pat Henderson had a golden opportunity midway through the second half, but his shot lacked power and was comfortably saved by the young Montrose goalkeeper McAlpine.

The match ended with a yellow card for Montrose's Munro for a cynical foul on Pat Henderson.

Following the defeat, manager Jack Steedman emphasised his determination to keep hold of the promising young talent, Jimmy Caskie. Steedman also lamented the team's injury crisis, with nearly half the squad unavailable for selection. The upcoming fixture against Stenhousemuir could see some youth players get a chance to impress, with Douglas Hay and Alan Munro potentially featuring after their selection for the Scottish Youth side trials.

This defeat will be a bitter pill to swallow for Clydebank fans, who will be hoping for a vast improvement when the team takes the field again.

Match report written by Adapted by Stuart McBay