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REVENGE IS SWEET FOR SUPER-LEAGUE BURGH AS BANKIES SUFFER WORST COMPETITIVE DEFEAT SINCE RETURNING TO THE JUNIORS

Clydebank 0-4 Johnstone Burgh

The game got the nod to go ahead after frantic efforts the night before to make sure the pitch was up to the task of being deemed playable - but a lot of fans were wishing the game wasn't on, after a crowd of 312 saw an ugly game of football played out, and a scoreline which flattered the Burgh.  It was also a scoreline which was historic in the sense that it was Clydebank's heaviest competitive defeat since being re-introduced into the Juniors.

This is how both sides lined up:

The opening stages of the match saw Clydebank have their best chances in the entire game, and with only three minutes gone a Sean Brady long throw from the left found Danny Simpson, who had his shot saved from the impressive Colin Traynor in goal.  The save went out for another throw-in on the right this time, and Brady once again chucked a long ball into the box, only for it to fall to Clinton Maxwell.  His volley was spectaculary tipped onto the crossbar from Traynor, and it was really a great way to start the game, having the Burgh on the ropes.

The Burgh bounced back by winning a corner with 6 minutes played out.  Mark Sherry swung it in and it fell to Danny McKelvie, but before McKelvie could shoot McNab got down well and blocked with his body well, denying a goal.  Our defence was very poor in dealing with this corner, and I was thankful McNab was quick to react.  A minute later, another Burgh corner saw Steven Miller curl in a cross, but Steven Gayne's looping header was well over the crossbar.

One of the controversial moments came with nine minutes gone.  A fair challenge from a Clydebank player was deemed to be a free-kick, even though to me it blatantly wasn't.  From this free-kick, Steven Gayne fired it in deep in the heart of the Clydebank defence, and the Bankies failed to clear the ball.  Danny McKelvie took full advantage of this, and fired the ball into the corner of the net to make it Clydebank 0-1 Johnstone Burgh, after 9 minutes.

Clydebank tried to come back from this, but failed to get momentum going for them.  Burgh pushed for a second goal, and on 15 minutes Mick Fallen lost the ball too easily.  He then deliberately fouled the Burgh player who disposessed him, conceding a free kick in a dangerous position.  Mark Sherry's effort clipped the top of the crossbar, and it was now Clydebank who were under severe pressure.

Michael Fallen tried to make up for conceding such a silly free kick by trying to get his team on level terms, and he came agonisingly close on 26 minutes.  A corner kick from Ryan Waddell saw Fallen with a diving header just yards from goal, but the header was stopped miraculously from Traynor, and the Bankies fans were clueless as to how the ball stayed out.  This was the last great chance Clydebank had for the remainder of the game, and the Burgh could be thankful that Traynor was having a great game in goal.  And straight after this attack, Johnstone Burgh responded with a counter attack which saw Danny McKelvie's shot just tipped over from McNab.

Ryan Waddell tried his luck just after the half hour with a decent effort, but again Traynor did well to deny Clydebank a goal.  Then McKelvie had an effort which went well wide a few minutes later.  The Burgh were just firing shots in at will, and Jason Murray saw his effort on 36 minutes go over the crossbar.  The only other chance worth mentioning is how a Scott McNab punt up the pitch was controlled wonderfully from Derek Readie, but he scuffed his shot wide of goal.  The ref blew for half time after this, and so far it was a close game and the scoreline was:

CLYDEBANK 0-1 JOHNSTONE BURGH

Johnstone Burgh started the second half the better team, and within a minute gone a shot from John McShane swerved wide of goal.  The first booking of the game was for Burgh's Steven Gayne, booked on 53 minutes.  Clydebank took this chance to make a change, Ryan Scobie coming on for Paul McGlinchey.

Clydebank made another change with an hour gone, Derek Watson making way for John Mitchell.  The Burgh made a change themselves, Steven Gayne making way for Alex Smith.  A few minutes after the changes, Clinton Maxwell fired a shot well over the crossbar.  And then a goal which changed the entire match, in favour for the Burgh.  Danny McKelvie got behind his defender and was through on goal, played onside by Sean Brady.  He lifted the ball over McNab for a well-finished effort, and it was a goal which killed-off Clydebank.  The score was now Clydebank 0-2 Johnstone Burgh, after 65 minutes.

A controversial incident a couple of minutes after the goal had been scored, something I unfortunately missed.  It's said that a punch was thrown, but what I saw myself was Danny Simpson and Danny McKelvie having a bit of afters, and getting booked for it.  After this unsavoury incident, Simpson was soon taking off for Michael Tolland, and then Mark Sherry was replaced by Andy Carberry.  Time was fast running out for Clydebank to get back into this game.

But all hope was lost when Johnstone Burgh scored their third.  It was yards offside, but no flag went up.  A low cross from the right was finished by Ryan McDonald, and it was now Clydebank 0-3 Johnstone Burgh, after 75 minutes.  It was to get much worse three minutes later, when Brian Harkins somehow found himself trying to defend against four Johnstone Burgh attackers.  Danny McKelvie wrapped up a hat-trick as he placed his shot into the bottom corner, and the scoreline now embarassingly stood at Clydebank 0-4 Johnstone Burgh, after 78 minutes.

The Burgh were now happy with 4-0, and made their final change.  Martin Campbell came on for Graham Dale after 83 minutes.  It was at this stage that Clydebank had nothing to play for except a consolation, and one player who tried their best to help get that was Derek Readie.  His shot went wide of goal, and the anguish in his face showed.  A couple of minutes after this saw the last real chance of the game, and it fell to Clydebank's Ryan Scobie.  A free header, as well, but it went wide of goal and I was a bit disappointed he didn't do better with it.  The last kick came when Steven Miller had his free kick blocked against the Clydebank wall, and the ref blew for full time.  The final score after a dismal 90 minutes was:

CLYDEBANK 0-4 JOHNSTONE BURGH

In-depth Analysis

Well, where to begin?  I say let's take the good from the bad, and concentrate on how we can be pleased about some things about Saturday.  Derek Watson and John Mitchell playing after lengthy spells out from injury was a positive sight, as well as seeing Derek Readie grow in confidence and showing off what he could be capable of.  It's a kind of role which could see him setting up goals as well as scoring them, a few neat touches and passes making me hopeful that he'll continue to show off those skills throughout the season.

That's around the only good points to take from the match, to be perfectly honest.  But from a personal standpoint, I myself was able to take a positive note after the game.  I got to thinking, that just because a couple of the players on the park showed some animosity towards each other doesn't mean the fans can't get along either.  So hobbling towards the bus stop, I saw a Burgh fan (yes, they got a decent fan-base) and I wished his team luck against Pollok.  In return, he wished the Bankies luck against Vale of Clyde.  And then we were both convinced we'd be playing each other next season, in the Super First division.

The Burgh have seemingly accepted that they're going down - now all the Bankies need to do is to bounce back against Vale of Clyde, and then against Shettleston, really make sure we silence the critics, and fuds like Jim O'Donnell as well.  Clydebank fans at the end, some guys said they wouldn't be back - they're going to miss out on what's going to be a thrilling season, whether we get promotion or not.  I just can't stress how important the fans seem to be, for the Clydebank players.  We're out the Central League Cup, a cup which has no real importance anymore, as there's no money involved, no sponser of it.  Let's concentrate on what we still have - a strong chance at promotion and a possible run in the West of Scotland Cup, a game against Maybole in the near future.

C'mon the Bankies!