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Central District League Division 1
Clydebank players and fans alike went into Westfield Park knowing full well that a win was needed, but a draw would still be quite a feat considering Dunipace's impressive home record. But by the final whistle, the fans felt that a win was more feasible, with some glorious second-half chances failing to bring a goal. A personal view from me is a draw is still a good result against Dunipace, and it's not as if we were dominant - it could have been much worse, seeing as Dunipace had a penalty saved and they hit the bar, as well as several 6-yard attacks somehow thwarted from the impressive McNab in goal. The team performed very well, many Bankies players were man of the match candidates. Regardless of the result, I am still pleased with Clydebank's performance and I hope they can apply those sorts of displays for every other match this season! I barely had time to get out my pen when Dunipace had an amazing opportunity to take the lead with only two minutes gone. Not sure which Dunipace players got the shots in but at close range McNab somehow kept the ball out of the back of the net. A very early scare, but the stops gave McNab a lot of confidence which was clear to see for the rest of the exciting match. To be honest, after this both sides tried but failed to create any real chances. Graeme Dempsey blasted over the crossbar from a Sean Brady throw-in from the right with 18 minutes gone, and then Struthers replied for Dunipace 4 minutes later when he scuffed his shot straight towards McNab. Hailstones volleyed over the crossbar a minute after this chance and it was end to end action. Clydebank's best chance of the match fell to Derek Readie on 27 minutes, when a Brian Harkins free-kick was flicked on from Esdale but Readie's shot was well turned past the post from Meighan in goal. Controversy followed two minutes later when Dunipace were awarded a penalty kick, an apparant shirt pull on a Pace attacker when he was rushing in from a ball in from Struthers. Stuart Morrison stepped up to take it but McNab was still feeling mighty confident, and stood his ground well to keep out the powerful-but-inaccurate penalty which was straight down the middle. Once again, McNab had gotten Clydebank out of trouble. McNab was completely helpless just two minutes after the penalty save when Craig McKinlay powered a header against the crossbar. Quite amazingly, the strong wind blowing in Dunipace's favour towards the Clydebank goal blew the ball back and the ball hit the bar again! McNab gathered the ball and the danger was over for now, and I was hoping for the ref to blow for half-time as Clydebank needed a break from all the pressure the defence was soaking up. David MacKay was booked for Dunipace on 36 minutes for diving, the second time he had actually done it in the match. Derek Readie just could not put the ball in the back of the net and his volley on 38 minutes from just two yards out was matched with a point-blank stop from Meighan. The final effort of the first half fell to Ryan Waddell from a Mark Hailstones corner, on the stroke of half time the ball broke to Waddell and he drilled a shot low into the direction of the bottom left-hand corner. Once again, Meighan was able to match this shot with a very good stop. The ref blew for half time, and at the end of a nervy first 45 the scoreline stood at: DUNIPACE 0-0 CLYDEBANK I was desperately hoping that Clydebank would improve in the second half. I was not let down, that's for damn sure! Fisher had an early shot saved, an effort in which he should've really scored as it was a chance Dunipace would've likely have taken. A minute later Derek Readie's bad luck of failing to put away his chances continued when he shot over the crossbar. So far, so good but Clydebank just couldn't put the damn ball past Meighan! I want Gary Esdale to practice his heading technique instantly, because it certainly needs improving! He had a good chance on 58 minutes but he just could not direct the header properly towards goal, or even connect properly with the ball and it went harmlessly over the crossbar. More evidence of his heading accuracy will appear later in this report. Fisher tried his luck again on 59 minutes but fired over the crossbar. Then Clydebank enemy number 1 Ian Davies received a yellow card. I am left to guess which Clydebank player had his header smack off the underside of the crossbar on 63 minutes and cleared. I have to assume it was Mick Fallen with the header but it's at times like this I am glad this is an UNOFFICIAL website and I don't have to be completely accurate with these reports. Anyway, Clydebank just could not score, and Dunipace didn't even have a look-in for the first 20 minutes of the second half. Struthers made way for Martin Rennie on 65 minutes, and Struthers wasn't looking too happy he would have no further part in the game. Fisher played a lovely through-ball to Derek Readie on 67 minutes, but it fell to Readie's left foot and despite it being a good effort, he was forced wide a bit which made it easier for Meighan to make the stop. Minutes later Readie again had a chance to score, his header stopped from the on-form Meighan in goal for Dunipace. David Fisher came off for Paul McGlinchey on 70 minutes, and I was happy with Fisher's first actual start for Clydebank. He showed some nice touches, good passing and created several chances, but failed to take the few he had himself. Craig McKinlay is a good player for Dunipace. But even he gets rattled when Clydebank keep the Pace from attacking, and when he blatantly hand-balled a flighted cross into the net he was booked. I think it should've been a red card, people are sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity with their hands so why not be sent off for trying to score with hands also? David MacKay went off for Ross Jackson after the booking for McKinlay on 77 minutes. Dunipace's last chance of the match was another "how did McNab save that" moments when a Pace counter attack found Kevin Mullen breaking through, and his hard-driven shot was well stopped from McNab. Time was fast running out, but Clydebank kept pushing and the final moments would see chances being missed left, right and centre. But before that, a knackered Mark Hailstones was replaced by Michael Tolland after 87 minutes. A minute later, Waddell played a short pass through to Readie inside the penalty box and he lifted it over Meighan, but a Pace defender came out of nowhere to head off the line! Then Esdale once again had a headed chance but it went over the crossbar when it seemed easier to score. Ryan Waddell had a free-kick into injury time, but the linesman flagged for one of many offsides for the Bankies throughout the 90 minutes. The ref blew for full-time, and while some boo-ing from the Clydebank faithful was directed towards the officials this quickly turned to applause and cheering for their players who performed as best as they could. No goals, plenty of excitement, a penalty save, a goal-line clearance, efforts off the crossbar for both sides and both goalkeepers on immaculate form. Final score: DUNIPACE 0-0 CLYDEBANK Graeme Dempsey was one of those who played really well, but he's thankfully not alone. McNab had his best game yet for Clydebank and Fisher did impress me, as well as Hailstones' leg-work and enthusiasm. Harkins commanded well at the back and Fallen and Mitchell didn't make any noticible mistakes, keeping things in order. Waddell had a good match as well, I can't really decide who was best! And I guess Esdale did have a good match, considering he was on the end of challenges like these:
Dunipace are a good team, but if a team can out-play them they fall apart. Clydebank did this, Dunipace fell apart for a lot of the game. They are a bit of a dirty team, but they're nothing compared to Vale of Clyde. I have been impressed with Tam Meighan for a good while, I knew he was a good goalkeeper before this game and he was Dunipace's best player. He did what he done against Vale of Clyde for the Pace - stopped his team from losing. Here's another picture, this time of Derek Readie being denied once again by Tam Meighan in goal:
Thanks to Colin Cameron for the photos. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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