Clydebank 1
Dunfermline 1
League (Division 1)

Match Report

Not so many years ago, thousands of brave souls would pack terraces around the country come rain, hail or shine to watch games like this.

United in their love of the game, the baying masses generated an electric atmosphere which made ordinary matches appear as Titanic battles.

Unfortunately, only 441 people paid to see this grinding, scrappy draw and they helped make it a spectacle filled with all the excitement of an afternoon watching paint dry.

Spells of driving rain and wind combined with a treacherous surface and the ghostly atmosphere around Kilbowie did nothing to help a game which was, at best, mediocre.

Although there were moments of comparatively high drama such as Bobby Robertson's early own goal, Doug Considine's spectacular equaliser and Gerry McCabe's magnificent shot which cannoned off the bar near the end, it was generally awful.

Bankies had the bulk of the pressure, playing neat football despite some over-enthusiastic tackling By the Dunfermline defence yet it was no surprise when Considine half volleyed a tremendous drive past Gallacher from 25 yards.

There was a certain inevitability about the goal which gave the East End Park side their sixth draw of the league campaign, for Clydebank are never more vulnerable than when a goal up at home.

The game turned into a carbon copy of the opening league match with Dunfermline's neighbours, Raith Rovers, when Bankies led from most of the match then lost their concentration long enough to give away a point.

They lost their way after an opening spell which suggested a repeat of the thrashings handed out to the Pars last season.

The move which ended in Robertson's unfortunate own goal was brilliant. Mark Treanor burst forward and swerved a great crossfield ball to Jimmy Given. His pass found Tommy Coyne, and although his control let him down, the Dunfermline defender's pass back beat the advancing Hugh Whyte.

A flurry of chances after that gave Bankies the chance to tie the game up early on, but gradually the initiative slipped away and near the break Dunfermline could have got themselves on level terms.

However, after a second-half which left an indelible blank on the mind, Considine picked up a weak clearance to blast the ball past Gallacher.

To be fair to the keeper, he was hindered for much of the game by an injured ankle, which was heavily strapped when he re-appeared after the interval. But a one and a million pot-shot such as the one Considine unleashed wouldn't give any keeper much of a chance.

After that, Clydebank had one other new effort at goal, McCabe's hook shot beating Whyte but coming off the bar, but they should have won the game before Dunfermline's equaliser.

Jim Given burst clear on the left, cut into the box and fired across goal. Six yards from goal, and with white beaten, Tommy Coyne sclaffed the ball wide.

If there's one consolation for Tom in missing that golden opportunity is that only 441 fans and not 30,000 saw him do so.