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Central District League Division 1

Expectations were high for this match, as Rutherglen had a good run as of late and Clydebank are needing every point available in the push for promotion.  So something had to give today at Glenhead Park.  It was special for a few reasons; Clydebank did get the needed points to keep in contention with Dunipace (who got beat 3-1 off Vale of Leven), and it saw the return of the Beast!  Jon Crawford's back in town and he changed the game when he came on as a sub.

The start saw Clydebank have the better chances, and after the prone-to-diving Lee McShane got booked after a few minutes had gone.  Waddell was the first to test out ex-Vale of Leven goalkeeper David Rodgers, who was known as "the flying pig" in his Vale days, and Rodgers was up to Waddell's shot by parrying it away well.  A couple of minutes later Hailstones fired over the crossbar.

Mark Hailstones would turn provider on twelve minutes and fired in a dangerous corner which went right through to the back post.  Fallen saw it late and volleyed over.  Steven Rennie had his first of MANY chances when he saw his shot go over the crossbar a minute later.  And straight from this Mark Hailstones once again trying to set up a goal this time from a free kick, and his ball into the back post found David Fisher's head, but he directed the ball into the side netting.  Fisher had been doing well in the early stages, some penetrating runs from inside the left towards the unsure Rutherglen defence.  I was sad to see him switched on to the right side of the pitch early on, where he wasn't as effective in my opinion.

Rennie got to warm up McNab's gloves on 17 minutes and this was the start of a spell of Rutherglen pressure which had the Bankies support confused as to why we weren't dealing with it in a better way!  Rutherglen had a hatrick of chances in a ten-minute spell, the first being a one-on-one chance when he got on to a ball at the back post and McNab did brilliantly to deny him.  Then Rennie fired wide of goal and with almost half an hour gone, Steven Rennie once again had a good chance to score, a free kick being tipped over my McNab.  The resulting corner (taken by Rennie) made it's way through to Paul Quinn, but he didn't expect the ball coming and didn't get much onto it.  It should've been cleared but one or two Clydebank players missed connecting to the ball, Ryan Waddell being one of them.  This wouldn't be the first time in the game he'd mis-cue a kick.

Clydebank came within inches of scoring when a Waddell free-kick was knocked on by Mitchell and Readie was a hair away from connecting to the ball but couldn't reach it.  Time was running out, and with less than ten minutes before the break Fallen had a shot blaze wide.  Waddell had a better chance five minutes later as his free-kick was hit with some venom, but Rodgers was able to block the shot.  It fell to Brady who had his shot either saved or blocked from a defender, and finally Hailstones from just outside the box dragged his shot well past Rodgers' post.  Some fine goal-keeping from the Rutherglen number one.

The final effort of the first half fell to Rutherglen's Scott Smith but he couldn't direct his header on target.  A bit worrying so far for Clydebank fans, I was a bit unsure if we could take anything based on the second half of the first 45 minutes.  Alas, no goals and I was now contemplating whether Clinton Maxwell is our only source of goals...

Clydebank tried to break the stalemate a few minutes into the second half through a Sean Brady throw but Hailstones headed wide.  And then it finally happened.  The partnership of Rennie and Smith up front for Rutherglen finally paid off as they linked very well to open the day's scoring.  Rennie was able to get by a Clydebank defender and fire in a good cross, which saw the static defence be beaten to the ball by Smith who left McNab with no chance.  A poor goal to give away but credit to the Glens for finally taking their chances.  It was now Clydebank 0-1 Rutherglen Glencairn, after 49 minutes.

And cue the flurry of bookings for Rutherglen!  The Rutherglen website says the fans influenced the ref.  Makes a change, usually the officials are against the Bankies!  But we had it happen to us - if you disrespect the referee with dissent and such, you WILL get into trouble for it.  Yes, it sucks that a hard challenge can go unpunished and yet complaining about a decision gets you booked, but that's the rules of the game the players have to follow.  Paul Quinn and Scott Smith were booked not because the fans helped referee Gary Kirkwood, but because they got themselves into trouble.  After Ryan Scobie came on for David Fisher, Paul Macaninch was the next player to be booked for Rutherglen.  And from the resulting free-kick from Macaninch's booking Waddell's free kick deflected wide for a corner from Hailstones, but the ball broke to Fallen who fired wide of the target.

An hour had gone, and Rutherglen were basically trying to hold on to the win.  Who wouldn't be doing that, though, they went into the game as underdogs and a team with any sense would do the same!  Dempsey's long throw found Esdale who headed wide, and this was followed up by Steven Rennie (Rutherglen's most creative player IMO) making way for ex-Bankie Gary Elrick.  Gary Boyle had a good shot from outside the box well saved from McNab a minute after the change, and from this Clydebank went up the park and Hailstones had his header tipped over the crossbar.  Esdale headed over the crossbar from the corner kick, and for time-wasting (not the first time he done so) David Rodgers, the Rutherglen goalkeeper, was booked.  And the referee made that decision all by himself...

Derek Readie's luck hadn't changed unfortunately as he scuffed his shot on 64 minutes, and the chance was gone.  A couple of minutes later saw the return of the Beast, Jon Crawford coming on for Graeme Dempsey.  And by golly, our defence was good as new when the Beast was back in there!  Readie had a wonderful chance to score after the substitution but a combination of a good save and just poor finishing meant the scores stayed the same.  Clydebank would really need a bit of luck to score again in this match.

And that bit of luck came with 20 minute remaining.  Clydebank were awarded a soft free-kick, if memory serves.  And also to contradict the Rutherglen website report, there was hardly any shout of a free kick from the home support as they were as surprised as the Glens fans, I am sure.  Waddell stepped up to take and it curled beautifully and hit the post.  As it came back out, it hit David Rodgers in the back and crawled over the line to send the Bankies fans nuts, and as Waddell kissed the badge in a combination of ecstasy and surprise all had been forgiven for his few mistakes throughout the whole game.  The score was now Clydebank 1-1 Rutherglen Glencairn, after 70 minutes.

The fans witnessed a near miracle a couple of minutes after this equaliser when Rutherglen's Lee McShane, already booked, fell to the ground in what seemed in total agony clutching his ankle.  The fact that there was no contact when the Clydebank player won the ball, and the ref knowing this and telling him to get up confused me even more.  And then as quick as a flash he hopped back onto his feet fresh as a dasiy.  I'm starting to think he was just diving...

There was a mere fifteen minutes to go and Hailstones swung in another corner, which found Crawford in at the back post to head it across goal to Brady who had his shot cleared off the line.  Joe Allison came on for Mark Hailstones after 82 minutes, and the persistant wave of Clydebank attacks didn't stop.  "If only they played like this for the whole match instead of the last twenty minutes!" I said to myself.  And a winner finally came thanks to Rutherglen's John Boyle.  A Sean Brady long throw into the danger area was flicked backwards by Boyle leaving Rodgers no chance in goals.  A horrific error by Rutherglen, another stroke of luck for Clydebank and it was now Clydebank 2-1 Rutherglen Glencairn, after 86 minutes.

Mark McKay came on for Paul Quinn a minute after the goal, Rutherglen hoping to salvage a point.  But moments later Scott Smith was late with a challenge and got his marching orders, a second yellow.  While play was still stopped, an incident occured which I have no real knowledge over everyone involved, what happened, why it happened.  It involves Rutherglen physio Terry Waters, Mick Fallen, a squirt of water from a bottle and possibly Ryan Waddell.  Whatever happened, Terry Waters was sent off as well, sent to the changing rooms.  Fallen was certainly ticked off with something, so I ASSUME that Terry Waters did something to him.

Boyle's day got worse when he was booked as the clock went into injury time.  Scobie had a shot go over the crossbar.  A good deal of injury time was played but no other chances were made, and finally the ref blew for full time.  The Clydebank players were overjoyed with the hard-fought victory, and they applauded the Bankies support for helping them get the points.  The final score at Glenhead Park was:

CLYDEBANK 2-1 RUTHERGLEN GLENCAIRN

Looking back at the match, Clydebank didn't play a good game defensively.  They gave Rutherglen too much freedom, letting them turn and run at them without sticking a challenge in.  And credit to Rutherglen for playing a football game, they passed it around well and were very creative.  If McNab hadn't been on good form it may have been a very different scoreline.  Standing out for Rutherglen were Steven Rennie and Tam McLaughlin.

Some good things to take from the match is how the Clydebank players didn't lose the plot going down 1-0.  They kept battling for a goal and the fans never stopped cheering them on.  Crawford did make a big difference to the defence, which makes me wonder who the back three will be next weekend.  Ryan Scobie had one of his best performances in a Bankies shirt when he came off the bench as well, doing well in the air.  And Clydebank finally scored in the league, after not scoring on league business for 251 minutes!

Official man of the match: Mark Hailstones

STATISTICS

Derek Readie won the unofficial man of the match vote chosen by the fans.

Please note that the content of this website is from a fan of Clydebank FC, and does not represent the club in any way or form.  This is all personal opinion, and is totally unofficial unless I say so otherwise.