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CLYDEBANK WIN THANKS TO MAD JACK OWN GOAL, SHETTLESTON THUGS ATTACK DES KELLY

Shettleston 0-1 Clydebank

Shettleston's ugly efforts to fight instead of play football didn't pay off, as the most hated Shettleston player for Clydebank ended up giving us victory.

A depleted travelling support for this match, as many were attending the Scotland match against Norway.  Here's how both sides at Greenfield Park lined up:

Here's how both sides took to the field:

I won't lie about it, Shettleston started the game the better team.  After just 3 minutes, a header from a corner went over the bar.  Clydebank responded to this a minute later creating a chance of their own, some lovely control from Hailstones and a through ball put Maxwell in with a chance, but his lob went wide of goal.

It was literally an attack a minute, and Shettleston squandered a glorious opportunity to go ahead when hesitation in the Clydebank defence saw Shettleston with the golden chance to score, but he pulled his shot past the post.

Clydebank were looking rattled, and on 7 minutes Shettleston got the better of the offside trap, but his shot was deflected by Crawford onto the post, and Halpin collected the ball to prevent any more attacks on goal.  Shettleston were firing shots in from far and wide, and a volley from the edge of the box after 9 minutes had power, but Halpin held the ball well.

Crawford lost posession of the ball after 10 minutes, and the early shot from the Shettleston attacker clipped the crossbar and went over.  But it didn't stop there, a lack of communication between Harkins and Halpin saw Colin Wilson with his best chance of the game, but he pulled his shot wide.  Then another shot from far out went wide of Halpin's goal.  Clydebank were starting to play a bit better on 16 minutes, but the final ball from Des Kelly was poor and the chance was squandered.

Fortunately for Clydebank, Des Kelly's next pass was superb, lifting the ball over the Shettleston defence for Maxwell to run onto.  His shot, though, just went wide of goal.  A couple of minutes later, all hell broke loose.

Play was stopped for a free kick to Clydebank, and Colin Wilson saw this as the best chance to react to a challenge Des Kelly had made earlier.  He head-butted Des Kelly, and the referee didn't hesitate to send Wilson off.  While the referee was trying to get Wilson off (he was attempting to come back onto the park), John Jack punched Kelly right in the mouth, and there was an uproar from the Bankies fans over it.  The referee didn't see this, despite the fact that Mad Jack had blood on his shorts and his knuckles, and Des Kelly bleeding from the mouth.  He then pretended he was injured, holding his face and going off the park for "treatment".  Yeah, he probably hurt his hand after he smashed them off Des Kelly's teeth!  John "Mad" Jack got away with it, and Hugh Kelly, the Shettleston manager, seemed pleased that his thug of a player had gotten away with it.

A few minutes after this unsavourary incident, Hailstones swung in a cross for Fallen, but his header just went over the bar.  Clydebank made a substitution after half an hour, the injured Des Kelly going off for Michael Tolland.  This saw Mark Hailstones take Des Kelly's original place, and Tolland went up front with Maxwell.

Clydebank's best piece of play throughout the whole match came on 33 minutes, some lovely one-touch passing saw Maxwell make a run and make space for himself.  His shot, though, just went over the bar.  Then Tolland won back the ball and was fouled on the edge of the box, and Colin Kelly was booked for this challenge.  No chance was made from the free kick.

John Jack was finally booked on 37 minutes, much to the delight of Bankies fans.  Des Kelly's dad wanted to destroy Mad Jack, but just had to settle for him to get verbal abuse from every Bankies fan.  A minute after this booking for Jack, Danny Charters was booked for Shettleston.  Then Harkins got booked for a deliberate foul on a Shettleston player, he hacked him down on the touchline and sent the player into the Shettleston dug-out.  This is the one thing that concerns me about Harkins - his temper.

On the stroke of half time, another Shettleston player was booked, this time William Shand.  The wee prick mumbled something about punching me earlier, as I said "don't trip up now" as he took a free kick.  So I was happy to see his name in the book.  And the last chance of the half fell to Shand, a free kick going over the bar.  The half time score at Greenfield Park was:

SHETTLESTON 0-0 CLYDEBANK

Shettleston started the second half by making a change a few minutes into it, the little prick William Shand going off for Ross McKintosh.  Shettleston, despite being at a disadvantage numerically, still looked more threatening, as they had a volley charged down after 51 minutes.  Then on 54 minutes, Jon Crawford came off for John McIntyre, and Sean Brady moved into Crawford's old position as McIntyre took his place in left back.

Michael Tolland had a shot a minute after the sub saved by the on-form Hutchinson, and the resulting corner kick was swung right in, but headed off the line.  Hailstones then had a shot deflect and squirm through towards goal, Hutchinson once again denying Clydebank a goal by pushing the ball wide of goal for another corner, but no chance was made from it.

A minute after this, another substitution was made, Shettleston's last sub.  Dennis Barclay went off for George Suan.  Then Clydebank fall asleep at the back and a Shettleston attacker is through on goal, with only Halpin to beat.  His lob, though, went wide of goal, and Halpin had done enough to put off the Shettleston player.

Halpin was on fire in the second half, another incident not long after this saw him having to charge off his line, but the Shettleston player rounded him!  As the attacker pulled the ball back for a shot, Halpin slide tackled him wonderfully, and the ball went out of play for a throw-in.  Clydebank made their final change after 71 minutes, Waddell making way for Derek Readie.

Mick Fallen picked up a poor booking, deliberately fouling a Shettleston player.  Then with 10 minutes to go, some more confusion with cards being issued, and another red.  Derek Readie was booked, although I do not know why.  And Colin Kelly, the substitute for Shettleston earlier in the game, picked up a 2nd yellow card and received his marching orders.  A minute later, a foul right in front of me saw substitute Ross McKintosh catch John McIntyre very late, with a high-footed challenge on his leg.  The magic touch of the physio and the cooling spray saw him able to finish the match.

Shettleston could've won the game with a few minutes remaining, when a free kick was flighted in for a free header, but Halpin miraculously saved the Bankies from losing late on.  That save earned him my man of the match.

As the clock just went into injury time, John McIntyre whipped in a great ball from a free kick, and how sweet and fitting it was for John Jack, the evil bugger who punched Des Kelly earlier, to score into his own net.  Clydebank fans went nuts, so did the management and the score was now Shettleston 0-1 Clydebank, after 90 minutes.

All that happened afterwards was that  Ryan Waddell was booked, even though he was on the Bankies bench, for holding play back by not giving the ball back right away.  The ref eventually blew the final whistle, and the full time score at Greenfield Park was:

SHETTLESTON 0-1 CLYDEBANK

In-depth Analysis

OK, let me try to find somewhere to start, a LOT to talk about.

Let's make a couple of positive statements about Shettleston.  They started the much better side, and were looking the likely team to score.  Before the violence, they had Clydebank on the ropes!  If they could only control their emotions, they might've slaughtered us again...

I could go on about the bad guys for Shettleston, but I'll spare a thought for those for Shettleston who played good.  Kevin Stanley damn near won every ball in the air, Steven Hutchinson was good in goal and John Dickson was a threat to Clydebank constantly.  More on Kevin Stanley, though, I feel (this is personal opinion, keep in mind) that he had something to PROVE to Budgie McGhie.  The team that let him go because they thought he wasn't going to be good enough for the standard this division holds.  Well, he was more than a match for OUR attackers, more than a match for Hailstones, Maxwell, Readie and Tolland.  He had something to prove to the Bankies, and I think he proved he IS good enough for this division.  I was impressed with him, so were others.  He didn't know WHAT to do as his team-mates head-butted and punched Des Kelly, except look around for SOMEONE to help him decide WHAT to feel, it was like he didn't know whether to feel guilty or not.

Chico Spears, the Shettleston assistant manager, at some point in the game, climed into the crowd to try to fight with a Clydebank fan.  It was apparently wee Adam's dad who got into the scuffle with Chico Spears, and it was wee Adam that put himself in between both of them.  THAT was a ridiculous incident, you'd feel that he'd be more professional about it.

I feel, personally, that it's WRONG for Chico Spears and John Jack to get away with incidents like these.  Colin Wilson's head-butt was also uncalled for, but at least he got caught for it!  I won't forget these incidents for a long time, and I'll keep pushing for the proper action to take place, punishment for these individuals for these sickening actions.

Right, now on to Clydebank...well, not a lot to say, Halpin was great, Des Kelly will PROBABLY be back for the Rutherglen Glencairn match, Crawford will hopefully be there as well.  Expect to find more information on players in the Clydebank Post.

Just a quick note, after the Clydebank match I headed with Stevie Latimer to Millburn Park, to catch the 2nd half of their game against Rutherglen.  We had missed the only goal of the game, scored by Montague, and it looked a bit of a firey match.  Rutherglen looked a bit weak on the wings, some long balls delivered up the wings for Maxwell and Hailstones to run onto and we could end up creating several easy chances.  It won't be easy next week against Rutherglen, but I feel that after watching them for one half against Vale of Leven, we can keep this little winning streak going.

It's weird, though, I feel I saw more football in that 2nd half at Millburn Park than I did the whole game at Greenfield Park!

Here's a diagram to show the runs made by the Clydebank players today:

My man of the match: Paul Halpin

NOTE: I HAVE EDITED SOME MINOR DETAILS, SUCH AS THE FACT THAT IT WAS CHICO SPEARS WHO JUMPED OVER THE WALL TO ATTACK A FAN, NOT HUGH KELLY.  STILL, FOR AN ASSISTANT MANAGER TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS DISGRACEFUL.

ALSO NOTE THAT DESPITE THE CLAIMS THAT DES KELLY THREW THE FIRST PUNCH, I DID NOT WITNESS THIS AND NO PROOF HAS BEEN GIVEN.  EVERYTHING IN THIS MATCH REPORT IS PERSONAL OPINION OF WHAT I SAW, AND EVENTS SUCH AS THE DES KELLY INCIDENT SHOULD NOT JUST BE INTERPRETED AS FACT.  IT'S WHAT I WITNESSED.

FINALLY, I APOLOGISE IF YOU TAKE OFFENCE TO OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE I HAVE USED IN THIS MATCH REPORT.  I WROTE IT AT A TIME WHEN MY EMOTIONS GOT THE BETTER OF ME.  MAINLY THE LANGUAGE USED TO DESCRIBE WILLIAM SHAND.  HE HAS A JOB TO DO ON THE PITCH, AND ALTHOUGH HE MAYBE SHOULD'VE KNOWN BETTER THAN TO THREATEN ME, IT WAS WRONG FOR ME TO BRAND HIM THE WAY I DID.  I WON'T CHANGE ANY OTHER ASPECTS OF THIS MATCH REPORT, BUT I APOLOGISE FOR THE NAME-CALLING, AND I WILL SEE TO IT THAT I DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF REPEATING THIS USE OF LANGUAGE TO ANY OPPOSITION PLAYERS IN FURTHER MATCH REPORTS.

C'mon the Bankies!