Partick Th 0
Clydebank 1
League (Division 1)

Match Report

Bankies recorded their second away success in a week and all that was missing were the black masks, stripy jumpers and swag bags.

They went to Firhill and committed daylight robbery rarely seen since the days of Dick Turpin.

Mark Treanor's spectacular 31st minute goal, one of the few shots at Alan Rough's goal gave them the points but Thistle should have had the game won in the first quarter of an hour.

Maurice Johnston, Donald Park and Alex O'Hara had some of the easiest chances you could wish to see, but Jim Gallacher was given more problems at the pre-match shooting practice.

O'Hara was the worst culprit of all and an incredible miss midway through the second-half summed up the home side's day.

For the umpteenth time their lead-up work was brilliant as the former Rangers man played a one-two with Johnston to leave himself with only Gallacher to beat. One rush of blood to the head later and the ball was rebounding from the crossbar to safety. Clydebank could not believe it but it had happened.

When O'Hara also managed only a few minutes later to stoop to ankle height and head a cross over the bar it was not going to be Jags day.

They were the Maryhill unpredictables of old with the only certain thing being that they were going to lose.

On a day when it was hard to know whether to laugh or cry at the comedy of errors, even Clydebank's goal had an element of farce.

Mark Treanor's curling effort from outside the far corner of the box may not have been a cross but Alan Rough being Alan Rough was caught in one of his helpless poses on the goal line and the ball hit the inside of the post on its way in.

Then it was back to defensive tasks for the young right back as Thistle once more laid siege on Gallacher's goal in the search for the perfect missed sitter.

O'Hara's second-half effort probably takes the honours, but Johnson did his utmost to emulate him with some atrocious shooting in both halves.

As all this activity was going on Bankies were getting on with the game calmly and resolutely with the minimum of fuss.

Martin Hughes was booked for a kick at Jamie Doyle's ankles but apart from that it was a very disciplined performance.

Late in the second-half they even managed to hit Thistle on the break a few times and might have scored a second but that would have been like the Great Train Robbers asking the driver for a lift to the next station.

Top marks for Bankies go to goalscorer Mark Treanor, who is quietly turning into a very good attacking full-back. Supporting his midfield well, he got into some good forward positions without forgetting his defensive responsibilities.

At the end of the game most of the 2088 fans were calling for Peter Cormack's head but by that time the Bankies were heading for home in their Parks of Hamilton getaway bus.