Stranraer 1
Clydebank 1
League (Division 2)

Match Report

Clydebank's twin centre forwards, Fleming and Moy were not so much held at Stair Park by Stranraer's double pivot act of Lawlor and Heap as by the offside law.

Fleming was the chief sinner, being caught out time and time again, particularly in the first half and Moy unfortunately followed his example.

The result was almost stalemate for Clydebank without offside tactics and without a twin pivotal role easily contained Stranraer's inept forward line.

But Clydebank were too casual; too cool, too calm and too collected. They tried to build up moves in a rigid pattern and thought their wingers O'Brien and Rutherford were eager, active and mobile, the failure of the double centres robbed the moves of any real danger.

Moy certainly got the credit for a goal. But his header was deflected by Lawlor when MacLachlan had it well covered. The ball trickled over the line at the opposite end of the goal.

The first half had been goalless and rather tame and the game did not catch fire even after the opening goal.

Stranraer had lost McQueen three minutes before the interval after a tackle by Henderson and the introduction of Grieve did not help to quicken the tempo.

Stan King, against his old club had a quiet game of mopping up and only in the closing stages did he operate as an attacker. He figured in a quick one-two with O'Brien and flashed a terrific drive inches wide.

It was the second best shot of the game, the best being that of veteran Dave Logan whose tremendous drive after Dunne had punched out a McLardie corner was headed clear by Henderson, the best defender on view.

Stranraer equalised after 69 minutes and for once the Clydebank defence was not well positioned. McMillan had an in-swinging corner which was headed into the goalmouth by Campbell and McLardie, almost on the goal line, hooked the ball past Dunne who had no chance whatsoever.

Stranraer had a couple of penalty claims. Keeper Dunne was lucky that the referee adjudged his embrace of McMillan's legs as accidental after he and Moore had got into a tangle in clearing a loose ball and his team were lucky as a whole when Campbell, bursting through between Moore and Mitchell, was landed on his back.

Douglas Hay was also lucky. He was caught out by the referee for an illegal tackle on Callaghan when the ball was well upfield and most players would have thought the official's back was to the the incident. However, he got off with a warning.

Clydebank had more of the ball throughout and had they maintained the service to the wingers, they would have avoided the loss of a point; as it was they came near to being Stranraer's second victims since November. Montrose being the only team Stranraer have beaten in five months.

In other news Bankies have signed the Drumchapel Amateurs outside right Gerry O'Brien. The winger, who has three brothers playing for Rutherglen Glencairn, joins Bankies squad of young players and brings the total of young boys to nine.

Maurice Dunne, the ex-Dumbarton goalkeeper, has been signed by the club. He will act as deputy for Dick Madden who is currently injured and unlikely to play again this season.

Bankies boosted their youth team by signing John McGunnigle from Langholm Juveniles. He joins Jim Fallon, Alan Munro and Gerry O'Brien who were all included in the Scottish Youth Team. One player who was in the National side but is no longer eligible is Douglas Hay. He has signed professional terms with the club and this means he can no longer play in the youth set up