A changed Clydebank side from yesterday's match with Neilston were emphatically defeated in this 3rd place play-off by a strong and determined Renfrew side.

A couple of new faces entered the fray, and it was a bit of a change from yesterday's match.  Here's how the team lined up:

Clydebank got off to the worst possible start, as we gave a free kick away from a dangerous position almost instantly.  The Frew kicker capitalised on this chance, and his shot clipped the edge of the Clydebank wall, and left Mehigan rooted as it spun into the corner of the goal.  Renfrew 1-0 Clydebank, after 1 minute.

After this, it was a scrappy battle for posession, and a midfield battle ensued.  But on 15 minutes, a corner kick saw a free header for a Renfrew player, only for it to be blocked by a Clydebank hand, and a penalty was awarded.  The penalty was hit well into Mehigan's left hand corner, and despite going the right way, could not reach it.  Renfrew 2-0 Clydebank, after 15 minutes.

Clydebank desperately tried to get back into this match, and on 20 minutes the Trialist wearing 7 crossed a dangerous looking cross in for Readie, who got his head onto it but the defender done enough to put him off, and it went harmlessly past the post.

A minute after this attack, Renfrew went up the park and won a free kick.  It was a well-hit inswinging free-kick, and Paul the Bankie predicted it was another goal to Renfrew coming up.  And he was (for once :p) correct, a free header making the score Renfrew 3-0 Clydebank, after 21 minutes.

On 25 minutes, some encouragement from the Bankies fans who made it today spurned the team to keep trying to get back into the game, and on 25 minutes, Clinton Maxwell hit in a good cross, which saw Readie fail to get a head onto the ball.  Clydebank were playing better, and it always seemed that a goal for Clydebank was inevitable.

On the half hour mark, John McIntyre, who was probably feeling well chuffed about that superb assist he had for Dempsey's goal, struck a shot sweetly from 30 yards.  It didn't dip, though, and it went over the bar.  A good effort, though, and it showed that Clydebank weren't giving up.

Renfrew responded to this spell of Bankies pressure by having a chance of their own 2 minutes later.  Mehigan was well up to it, though, and produced a good save from the low shot.  This was followed up by a shot from 25 yards just flying past Meghi's top-hand corner, a very close call for Clydebank.

It was like a game of tennis at this point, and Clydebank responded through Ryan Waddell.  The ball broke to him, and he turned a man wonderfully inside the box, creating a chance for himself.  But his effort was blocked from the Frew defence.  This was good pressure that Clydebank were applying to the Renfrew defence.

But for the remaining 5 minutes of the half, Renfrew showed weaknesses in our defence, and it was evidently clear that our defence was looking all over the place, and that nobody was taking charge at the back.  Half time whistle blew with 41 minutes gone, and the score was:RENFREW 3-1 CLYDEBANK

Half time was fun, with wee Adam in goal for Tolland's shots.  Adam's a pish goalie, lol, and could not deal with Tolland's barrage of wonderfully-hit shots.  So after the THIAF squad encouraged me to go between the sticks, I accepted, and Tolland could not score into me.  Watch out Meghi...The second half kicked off, and Clydebank's Trialist wearing 7 gave the ball away while attempting to switch the play.  This produced a dangerous attack, but Mehigan saved well to deny Renfrew stretching their lead.  A minute later, Mehigan saved a shot and goes to ground, and the rebound is poorly hit wide of goal.

On 50 minutes, Clydebank won a corner kick, and it found an unmarked Readie, who jumped too early, and his header went slowly wide of goal.  But this was Clydebank's best spell of pressure throughout, Renfrew were pinnned in their own box as shots and crosses blazed through, which got the crowd going again to get behind the team.  The Bankies management were desperately trying to get back into the game, and as pictured below Budgie's enthusiasm to get his message across often saw him creep onto the park.  Nothin wrong with that, all managers do that.  Yet the ref still gave him an earbashing for it!  Anyway, the pic is thanks to THIAF once again, shows our management trying to think of their next move.

53 minutes - SUB: Harris and Maxwell OFF, Allison and Tolland ON.

This change saw Dempsey move into Harris' position in defence, and Allison took over Dempsey's previous midfield position.  Tolland simply took over Maxwell's position on the left wing. 

59 minutes - SUB: Waddell OFF, Trialist 15 ON

Just past the hour saw a free kick to Renfrew.  This was hit into the box, where an unmarked Frew player sneaked a header past Mehigan to make the scoreline Renfrew 4-1 Clydebank, after 61 minutes.

Fans were still reeling from that goal when Renfrew added a fifth.  A throw-in to the front post was flicked back to a Renfrew player, who volleyed it into the back of the net with no defender marking him, and even Mehigan was helpless to stop the goal.  Renfrew 5-1 Clydebank, after 63 minutes.

By now, the game was pretty much over, but Clydebank rallied on for a consolation.  And sure enough, Hailstones nodded in a cross/shot into the top corner to make it Renfrew 5-2 Clydebank, after 68 minutes.

Renfrew wanted to have the last say in this match, and on 71 minutes a cross hit the top of Mehigan's crossbar, and bounced back out.  It was too close for comfort, to say the least.

Clydebank's response to this Renfrew attack was to just attack back, and Readie had a shot trundle wide after 73 minutes.  This was the last effort in the match, and I think it's a bit fair to say that the scoreline does not do Clydebank's performance justice.  After the final whistle, the score was:

RENFREW 5-2 CLYDEBANK

We learn from defeats, and this game saw some hope for Readie, as he was always a threat to the Renfrew defence.  Harris and Fallen in defence seems a good combination, but neither took charge at the back, like Harkins or Crawford do regulary.  That'll need to change for Wednesday, and let's hope that someone takes charge at the back against Kirkintilloch.

Mark Hailstones, as usual, never stopped running for balls throughout the game, and was the major threat to Renfrew.  And John McIntyre had a more attacking game, while having a good game in defence also.  Even though we were beat, the fans' spirit was high, and I myself didn't make it home until 9, staying to talk to Neilston directors and having a sing-song.  Stevie Latimer said it was the most fun he's ever had sober!  So it was a great evening for fans, who certainly saw some good after this crushing result.

We had a back 4, but our right back, which is usually Dempsey's position, was taken over by a trialist, and I was informed that it was not that trialist's normal position on a football pitch.  Not to offend, but that clearly showed to some fans, myself included.  This was an experimental squad, so Budgie could see if trialists could impress and if out-of-position players could adapt elsewhere.  Here's a diagram of the runs made, and positions players got into:

Man of the match: GRAEME DEMPSEY

ON ANOTHER NOTE, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE SUPER KEVIN STANLEY AT THE GAME TODAY.  STILL A DIE-HARD CLYDEBANK FAN, IT SEEMS.  HOPEFULLY HE'LL BE A REGULAR AT NEXT SEASON'S GAMES...

In the final, Bellshill defeated the hosts Neilston 3-2.  Bellshill were winning 2-0, Neilston brought it back to 2-2 before a last minute penalty gave Bellshill the victory.  THIAF have provided me with a photo, and in typical THIAF fashion, I've made a joke of it.