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CLYDEBANK EARN REPLAY AFTER HARD-FOUGHT 1-1 DRAW

Broxburn Athletic 1-1 Clydebank

It was a game which brought 3 coachloads of fans to make the game, despite the dull weather. Yes, it was the Scottish Junior Cup! And despite a fairly exciting game, with chances for both sides, it ended in a 1-1 draw.

This is how both sides lined up:

We all arrived together, both the massive travelling support and the players.  Took in the Broxburn air, looked at our surroundings and then most headed to the nearby pub.  I on the other hand, went towards the ground, and was asked if I wanted to view the pitch.  Before too long, I was standing in goal and Harkie was whacking shots in, usually high over the bar.

I could go on and on about the pre-match preparation, but what's to say?  The subs ran out of balls to practice with after all the ones they had were already hit left, right and centre out of the park (nice one Meghi).  So a few minutes after 2pm, the players came out to a huge roar, I'm sure the Clydebank players were themselves astounded to the reception they got.

Clydebank started the game in a positive mood, inspired by the roar of the Bankies, something you don't commonly see at most games. Joe Allison showed some nifty footwork with just 3 minutes gone, and from the left he whipped in a front-post cross to Tolland, and he flicked it on for Hailstones. The ball was behind Hailstones, though, and it was cleared away

The Bankies won a corner on 14 minutes, and from it we almost scored. Mark Hailstones hit it quick and to the front post, and Tolland's header was well blocked from Greenan, a vital save from him to keep the scores level.

Broxburn responded to this through an attack on goal, coming from Brian Quinn. His shot didn't trouble Halpin, though, going wide of goal. A minute later Fallen fouled Lee Manderson, and the resulting free kick from Chris King was cleared away.

With 20 minutes gone, the opening goal came. Michael Tolland had done very well on the right to win a corner, and Ryan Waddell curled it in, high but towards the front post. Fallen headed it towards the back post, where Crawford was lieing in wait. His header looped over the goalkeeper towards Sean Brady, who powered a header into the back of the net to make it Broxburn 0-1 Clydebank, after 20 minutes.

Hailstones and Tolland were switching places for fun, running down both wings whenever they could. Hailstones found himself on the left wing, and some trickery and skill was followed by a sliced cross, which almost found it's way over Greenan in goal for Broxburn. It just went over, and Hailstones was unlucky not to have fluked a goal.

Broxburn were desperate for an equaliser, and on 29 minutes Chris King fired over the bar. A minute later, the first booking of the game went to Paul Wardlaw. The resulting free kick from Waddell turned into a corner by Hailstones, but no chance was made from this. On 38 minutes David Cunningham was the next to face the wrath of the ref.

Ryan Waddell could've set a lot of minds at ease on 39 minutes, after originally wasting a free kick he won back posession, and was running through on goal from the right. His drive into the box was followed from a shot which went agonisingly over the crossbar, and the midfield maestro was unlucky not to double Clydebank's lead.

Broxburn were now desperate for anything before half time, something to give them hope. But on 43 minutes, they received their 3rd booking in only 13 minutes, Kevin Carr got booked. A Waddell free-kick resulted in no chance being made, and then deep into injury time Waddell concedes a free kick in a dangerous position, on the right wing. It was crossed in by Chris King, and Barry Fergus nodded home the equaliser to make it Broxburn 1-1 Clydebank, after 48 minutes.

That was the last action of the half, and the score after a Clydebank-dominated half was:

Broxburn Athletic 1-1 Clydebank

Like the famous expression goes, football is a game of two halves. Broxburn had a new-found confidence in themselves, and Clydebank's midfield problems were being exposed. Broxburn felt a change was needed, so they brought off Lee Manderson and on came assistant manager Paul McKinley.

With 56 minutes on the clock, Broxburn blew a great opportunity to take the lead. Slack defending from a corner saw Kevin Carr have his header go wide of goal, and the Clydebank defence knew that was a serious let-off. This was followed by a penalty claim for hand-ball turned down, the ball hitting off Danny Simpson. From a personal viewpoint, I felt it hit his ribs. Michael Fallen also seemed to bring down McKinley on the edge of the box, being last man. The referee told McKinley to get back up, and again a let-off for Clydebank.

Danny Simpson was having a horrible short spell at the moment, and a horrendous passback saw McKinley go one-on-one with Halpin. As McKinley tried to round Halpin, the Clydebank goalkeeper done marvellous to get a hand to the ball, and Clydebank captain Harkins was in the right place at the right time to stop any chance of a rebound.

After this great Broxburn chance was wasted, Michael Tolland made way for David Simeon. Simeon had a positive impact in the match, having a shot just go over the crossbar from 25 yards, after 68 minutes of play.

Time was running our for both sides, and Broxburn threw on Ian Norris, who replaced Steven Findlay. Within a minute Clydebank also made a substitution, Des Kelly making way for Graeme Dempsey. It seems to be since an off-the-ball incident against Shettleston a few weeks back, his confidence has seriously dropped.

With 15 minutes remaining, Dempsey had a dipping volley parried wide by Greenan, and the resulting corner kick from Hailstones was punched away from Greenan yet again. Halpin was on form, too, making a decent stop to deny Clydebank going behind.

Time was not on anyone's side, and after 80 minute Joe Allison was replaced by John McIntyre, after taking a knock. Seab Brady had a shot go over the bar, it wouldn't sit right for him. But the last real chance of the game fell to Kevin Carr, he missed when it seemed easier to score. Danny Simpson was booked with 3 minutes remaining, and into injury time Chris King also was booked. The full time whistle blew, the players left the field with their heads held high and appreciated the cheers and applause from the Clydebank faithful. The full time score at Albyn Park was:

Broxburn Athletic 1-1 Clydebank

Budgie McGhie said he felt the draw was a fair result, and the team played reasonably well. "We struggled for the first 15 minutes of the second half, but we had the best posession even though Broxburn had the better chances."

Clydebank face an injury crisis at the moment, striker Derek Readie had the flu and missed out yesterday while Clinton Maxwell turned over on his ankle in training and could be out for two or three weeks. Graemem Dempsey has a hamstring problem but declared himself fit to play. John Mitchell should be eligible to play in the replay, to make possibly make his debut.

The fans' man of the match: Mick Fallen

THE REPLAY WILL TAKE PLACE AT McKENNA PARK, WHERE St ANTHONY'S PLAY, ON SATURDAY 13th NOVEMBER. Kick-off 1:45pm.

C'mon the Bankies!