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THRILLER AT THISTLE ENDS IN A DRAW

East Kilbride Thistle 2-2 Clydebank

It was a bitterly cold day in East Kilbride, which seems to be the norm I'm told by the locals.  And while we were warmed up from the good hospitality, the players froze their knackers off, but still played out a smashing 90 minutes' worth of football.  Clydebank suffered a set-back before kick-off, as Ryan Scobie forgot to do his warm-up stretches before kicking the ball about, and suffered a strain which saw Derek Readie start instead, and Joe Allison brought on to the bench.

This is how both sides lined up:

The game started with Thistle being the better side, having a few early chances for attacks.  A couple of minutes into the game, a cross went across the Clydebank goal, but luckily for the Bankies there was no Thistle player on the end of it.  Then on six minutes, David Menelaws fired high and wide for Thistle.  Our defence seemed to be coping fine without Jon Crawford at the back, and that confidence soon spread throughout the whole side.

On ten minutes, Sean Brady played a lovely one-two with Ryan Waddell on the left of the pitch and the low cross found Derek Readie, who turned his man well and fired a low shot into the corner, to make it East Kilbride 0-1 Clydebank, after 10 minutes.

Thistle responded instantly with a 25-yard effort from David Menelaws being well saved from Halpin.  But a few minutes later, Clydebank's defence showed some uncertaintly and failed to clear the ball out from the penalty area.  A cross was swung back in, and Halpin came to collect but spilled the ball.  As a Thistle attacker went for the ball, he must've inadvertantly caught Halpin, who received treatment for the knock and carried on.  James Fay whacked a free kick over the crossbar on 16 minutes.

The referee, Hugh Kennedy, was a controversial figure throughout the match and didn't please either set of supporters with his erractic decisions.  The first of these was when Ryan Waddell was booked for a two-footed challenge.  I'm not saying it isn't a booking, it was probably a bookable offence.  But Thistle had one or two similar challenges, which were not given the same outcome of a card.  This is what upset some fans.  East Kilbride's best chance so far came on 26 minutes, a header from a Ryan Kelly corner found Menelaws, but it was cleared off the line by Clinton Maxwell.

Mick Fallen could last no longer, and was brought off for John McIntyre on 27 minutes.  So while the defence were getting re-organised, some confusion as to which Clydebank defender moves where meant that there were gaps all over the place, and Thistle took complete advantage of this.  Ryan Kelly knocked in a cross from the right in towards an unmarked James Fay, who had an easy tap-in for the equaliser.  A very poor goal to give away, but credit to Thistle for taking advantage of the chances they get.  The score was now East Kilbride Thistle 1-1 Clydebank, after 28 minutes.

Clydebank did try to regain the lead, and Michael Tolland had a couple of efforts.  His first was his best throughout the day, through on goal but Brian MacDonald done superbly to deny Tolland from scoring after 33 minutes.  Around five minutes later, Tolland again had a chance but it went over the crossbar.  It was the Michael Tolland show, as on 41 minutes he again came close, his corner kick coming back out to him, and he fired just over the crossbar.  And for a change of pace, Ryan Waddell found his shot sail over the crossbar on the stroke of half time.  So the scores after the first 45 minutes of play was:

EAST KILBRIDE THISTLE 1-1 CLYDEBANK

The half time show was alright, with McNab being tested in goal as usual.  Very occassionally, he was forced into making a save, and as the teams came back out for the second half, Simeon's acrobatic effort hit the corner flag.  "That'll put fear into Thistle", I thought...

The second half started well for Clydebank, Ryan Waddell having his best moment of the match when he skinned Stephen Watson inside out, before unleashing a powerful shot which had beaten Brian MacDonald, but Vinny Conway had blocked the shot, which then hit off the crossbar, and the chance was gone.  Thistle made a change, with the EK manager's son Stephen Brogan coming on for Duncan Kane a few minutes after Waddell's effort.  And just before the hour mark, Clinton Maxwell was replaced by David Fisher.

Stephen Watson was booked for Thistle on 60 minutes before Dempsey picked up a booking himself on 63 minutes.  I've been told by a Thistle fan to include in this report that it's the first challenge Stephen Watson has ever made, which gave us all a good laugh.  So he's been named and shamed!

WIth 68 minutes gone, Clydebank really piled on the pressure and Sean Brady's shot was superbly saved from MacDonald in goal, before Readie's effort seconds later had beaten MacDonald but was cleared off the line by the use of a hand from McLenaghan.  From where I was standing, which was fairly far away, it looked like it hit his chest, and others thought so too.  But the referee was closer to it, and the EK player had no objections whatsoever, leaving me to believe it was a definite hand ball.  Brian Harkins stepped up to take, and sent MacDonald the wrong way to put Clydebank into the lead once again.  The score was now East Kilbride Thistle 1-2 Clydebank, after 68 minutes.

Clydebank continued to apply the pressure, making the most of the numerical advantage, and Ryan Waddell saw his free kick well saved on 70 minutes.  After this, though, Clydebank tried to conserve the lead and let Thistle attack at will, and I was thinking of shouting at times "WHERE'S THE MIDFIELD?" because if the ball was cleared, it went straight to a Thistle player to attack some more.  East Kilbride showed some good bouncebackability, and got what they deserved when David Menelaws nipped in at the front post to even the score.  Halpin had shouted it was his ball, but Menelaws came out of nowhere, and now time was fast running out for a winner for either side.  The score was now East Kilbride Thistle 2-2 Clydebank, after 82 minutes.

Ryan Waddell came off for Joe Allison with a minute to go, and then the only other chances in the game was when Thistle sub Stephen Brogan had his shot saved well from Halpin, and Michael Tolland having his shot go over the crossbar.  The ref blew for full time, and as I shook hands with the EK fans I realised that I had lost all feeling in my fingers - thankfully, a pie came to the rescue and circulation was flowing again!  The players looked a bit disappointed, both managers felt they should've won the game but it was the right result at the end of the day.  We were all shown great hospitality, the fans were friendly and I look forward to welcoming the Thistle fans to Glenhead Park for the return game.  That is, IF the game will be played at Glenhead Park.  The full time score, on a bitterly cold day at the Showpark was:

EAST KILBRIDE THISTLE 2-2 CLYDEBANK

In-depth analysis

Well, the absence of Jon Crawford and the injury for Mick Fallen certainly had a negative affect on our defence.  Dempsey's still carrying a knock as well, and Derek Watson IS still on the injury list.  Ryan Scobie didn't do his warm-up stretches before kicking a ball about, and paid the price for it - a sure warning to all young footballers of how important doing your stretches are before a football game.  Mark Hailstones was clearly struggling, yet made the trip to cheer on the Bankies.  Amazing dedication and committment from Mark, to make it along.

People want to know what the injury list contains.  Well, here's what I've got for it, try and keep up: Sinclair Soutar, Mark Kilpatrick, Derek Watson, Mark Hailstones, Clinton Maxwell, John Mitchell, Mick Fallen, Joe Allison.  Jon Crawford's in America, as well!  So we head for this game against the Burgh, and Budgie has a big decision to make.  Does he risk putting out a strong side, to try and make it into the second round for what would be a money-spinning game away to Pollok?  Or does he field a weakened team, and give others a run-out while those with a knock can recover for league duty?

As for the game itself, well, concerning the many injuries we have we did well.  I was happy with a draw, and I won't be disappointed if we're beaten against the Burgh.  All I ask is that whatever team Budgie puts out do their best, and if it isn't enough then it's one less cup to worry about.

C'mon the Bankies!