Clydebank 1
East Fife 3
League Cup (Group 6)

Match Report

Clydebank's youthful side were well and truly beaten at Kilbowie by a far more experienced East Fife outfit. The "Whalloping Waddells" tore through the young Bankies defence, slamming home two goals in quick succession midway through the first half.

The misery for Clydebank began in the 15th minute. Bobby Waddell rose to meet a Dewar corner, unleashing a powerful shot that left a bewildered Dick Madden rooted to the spot. The young goalkeeper could only watch in disbelief as the ball flew past him and into the net.

Just a minute later, disaster struck again for the Bankies. This time, it was Andy Waddell who punished their naivety. He intercepted a woeful Henderson pass close to goal and coolly slotted the ball under Madden to double East Fife's lead.

These goals weren't a surprise. The Clydebank defence, featuring three 17-year-olds in midfield (Ruddy, McMillan, and Gray), had looked shaky throughout the opening stages. East Fife, with their seasoned campaigners, exploited these weaknesses ruthlessly.

After conceding twice, Clydebank seemed to crumble. Errors and poor decision-making plagued their play as East Fife continued to pile on the pressure. It took a full 15 minutes for the young Bankies to regroup.

A glimmer of hope arrived in the 29th minute. Young Caskie broke free and received a pass from McMillan just outside the East Fife area. He attempted a lob over the onrushing goalkeeper Gorman, but the effort sailed inches over the bar.

This seemed to spark some life into the home side. Clydebank started to play with more purpose, with solo runs from their forwards causing problems for the East Fife defence. Caskie, in particular, impressed. He danced past East Fife's centre-half Guild in the 34th minute and unleashed a powerful shot that forced a spectacular save from Gorman.

Despite some valiant efforts from both teams, the score remained unchanged at half-time.

The second half began with East Fife maintaining the upper hand. However, substitute McGunnigle – replacing McMillan – brought renewed energy to the Clydebank midfield.

The decisive moment arrived in the 64th minute. Gray's clumsy challenge on Soutar in the penalty area gifted East Fife a penalty. Guild stepped up and coolly converted from the spot to extend their lead.

Clydebank battled hard to get back into the game, but a resolute East Fife defence repeatedly repelled their attacks. The visitors' forwards, however, were noticeably tiring as the game progressed.

Gray almost atoned for his earlier error in the 70th minute. He connected with a rebound from a Caskie corner, but his effort rattled off the bar.

Finally, in the 75th minute, Clydebank found a consolation goal. A flowing move down the right wing involving Rutherford and Hawkshaw culminated in McGunnigle tapping the ball home from close range.

The remainder of the match was a fairly even contest. East Fife, despite their fatigue, held on for a deserved victory. While the young Bankies showed flashes of promise, their inexperience ultimately proved costly against a more seasoned East Fife side.

Match report written by Adapted by Stuart McBay