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Central District League Division 1

Clydebank deservedly ran out winners of this frantic footballing battle at Fullarton Park, and despite the home team's best efforts to hold on for a draw which would've seen them lift the title Clydebank made sure that they would not see their fiercest rivals this season on this particular day. A whole team full of heroes made sure that promotion was still very much in our own hands.

Mark Hailstones had a volley go over the crossbar in the first few minutes of the game, and this was followed by a Ryan Waddell free-kick that was saved by Chris Wilson on 10 minutes. Vale of Clyde had difficulty stringing passes together and a lot of slack balls and poor play meant that they spent the first 15 minutes of the match trying to regain the ball, and this of course meant dangerous tackles aplenty. Mark Hailstones was crunched but was able to continue, but Sean Brady was taken out from the Tin Pail hit-men and he was replaced on 17 minutes by Des Kelly. From this, Fraser fired past the post for Vale of Clyde.

Clydebank were always threatening with a goal and it came through one an unlikely source. Waddell's shot was blocked but the ball fell to Ryan Scobie, who fired past Wilson and into the corner for his very first goal for Clydebank. What a time to score it! The score was now Vale of Clyde 0-1 Clydebank, after 25 minutes.

Kevin Clancy was a good referee but he failed to really stamp his authority on the game, by being almost afraid to brandish a card. Vale of Clyde kept up the rough play and kept being generally unpunished for it. Vale of Clyde kept playing the long ball option and got a stroke of luck when Sinclair Soutar made an absolute howler which let Danny Taylor through one-on-one with McNab, and he steered the ball past McNab and it rolled over the line. Players and management alike for the Tin Pail were happy with this and in a sense I knew that they would then change their whole style of play - they only needed a draw and instead of doing what they're good at, pushing for more goals, they sat back content with the draw. The score was now Vale of Clyde 1-1 Clydebank, after 37 minutes.

The only other chance before half time was another effort from Scobie which was turned around the post wonderfully by Wilson in goals. The ref blew for half time and the scoreline stood at:

VALE OF CLYDE 1-1 CLYDEBANK

Vale of Clyde made a substitution, with Duncan Wilson going off for Gary Keenan. Clydebank could've regained the lead in the opening stages of the second half but Hailstones' lob was just over the crossbar. There were hardly any other chances for the first 15 or 20 minutes of the half but some strong Clydebank pressure eventually saw the winning goal. Some great play from several Clydebank players eventually saw Des Kelly curl in an excellent first-time cross which found Clinton Maxwell, who forced the ball into the back of the net to send the travelling army of Clydebank fans into a frenzied state of joy. Unlike the first goal, most fans were now giving plenty of stick to Dennis Curran in revenge for his actions for the Tin Pail's equaliser before. The score was now Vale of Clyde 1-2 Clydebank, after 64 minutes.

Vale of Clyde responded instantly and suddenly stopped trying to play for the draw. Danny Taylor's well-struck free-kick only a few minutes after the Clydebank goal saw a fantastic double-save from Scott McNab, from both the free-kick and the rebound from an onrushing Vale of Clyde player. Scobie fired over the crossbar on 72 minutes, and then as the clock was ticking over into the last ten minutes Vale of Clyde and Clydebank both made changes. Paul Thomson went off for Bryan Caldwell for Vale of Clyde and for Clydebank, Derek Readie came on for Clinton Maxwell.

The Bankies kept attacking the Tin Pail defensive line and could've secured the victory when another inch-perfect Des Kelly cross found Derek Readie but he headed just over the bar. Kevin Clancy finally booked a player, Danny Taylor the player in trouble with the ref with just 4 minutes to go. The return of the Beast followed this, Jon Crawford coming on for Des Kelly. A minute to go, Scobie fired a cross into the box only for Vale of Clyde's Danny Drew to head it into his own side-netting for a corner. Waddell fired it high into the back post but Crawford could not keep it down and it went over the bar. Clydebank then played out time and no other chances were made. The referee blew for full-time and the celebrations began, with some fans running onto the pitch to congratulate the players themselves. Fans were hugging each other and the players, the victory was needed as the whole team knew anything less would seriously dent morale and promotion would've seemed certain not to be possible. Instead, Clydebank have taken 6 points from 6 in their league clashes with Vale of Clyde and are in a good position for promotion. The final score on a sunny day at Fullarton Park was:

VALE OF CLYDE 1-2 CLYDEBANK

The fans were spectacular, to start off my own thoughts of the game. Never stopped singing their hearts out and created a hell of an atmosphere. I wonder if the noise the fans made is the reason why Vale of Clyde played poorly. I have no idea why they are top based on their performance in this match, and even though they are now promoted despite defeat they will need to strengthen their squad (with players who can play football, not with players who can knock you out) or they will likely struggle next season in the Super League First Division.

The players had some of their best games in a Bankies shirt. Ryan Scobie certainly did, getting that goal did wonders for his play! His first goal for the club and hopefully not his last either. Des Kelly coming on for Sean Brady did take out the long-throw attack style but Des Kelly's got a great ability to be able to cross accurately when the ball is not in a dead-ball situation, meaning he can whack a great ball in first-time and find a Bankies player waiting to connect. McNab, once again, produced the goods when needed and made a couple of spectacular stops and generally won every high ball in that penalty box. Fallen back from suspension was very good, conceded a few fouls but still done well as did Harkins and Soutar. Soutar did give away the goal but he didn't let his head drop - he forgot about it and for the rest of the game was part of a fantastic defence that dealt well with all attacks thrown at them.

Clinton Maxwell's pursuit to be top goalscorer was helped with his winner, and Waddell and Hailstones did well in midfield. Wee Mark was unlucky not to score with his lob in the early moments of the second half. Hell, the whole team were spectacular. BUT it's not over yet!

A squad full of talent, waiting for their own chance to make their mark on the fans. Who'll be the player to score a goal that could get us promotion? Who'll be the player who makes a last-second wonder-tackle to deny an opposition striker from equalising in the final minute? Who will be playing in our final home match this season in front of an even bigger support than ever before this season? Who'll go down in history and be talked about in 20 years' time?

Every single player, hopefully. C'mon the Bankies!

STATISTICS

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.