Arthurlie 2-1 Clydebank
The mighty 'Lie scraped a victory in the last minutes of the match to claim victory in the last pre-season friendly fixture before both teams start Sectional League Cup business, in front of an estimated crowd of around 250.
Clydebank played a strong team, who lined up in an interesting 3-5-2 formation, which Arthurlie also used. Interesting to note players like Maxwell playing more central in this game, rather than on the left wing where he's accustomed to. Also interesting to see is Tolland, playing up front. David "Simba" Simeon injured his groin during the warm-up, which is why he started on the bench. And Joe Allison missed the game due to injury, but should be back for the Vale of Clyde game.
1) Paul Halpin
2) Graeme Dempsey
3) John McIntyre
4) Sinclair Soutar
5) Mick Fallen
6) Mark McGuire
7) Trialist A
8) Derek Readie
10) Ryan Waddell
11) Clinton Maxwell
12) Michael Tolland
SUBS
9) David Simeon
13) Mark Hailstones
14) Trialist B
15) Danny Prior
16) Stephen Mehigan
Arthurlie started the much better side, and on 3 minutes a shot from a 'Lie attacker went just wide of Halpin's goal. But a single minute later, a poor passback my Fallen gave David McKenzie the chance to score. He rounded a helpless Halpin, and scored to make it Arthurlie 1-0 Clydebank, after 4 minutes.
Clydebank were suffering heavy pressure, and a bombardment of shots flying in on them on the early stages. So it was a relief to the travelling Bankies fans to see a Clydebank chance on 13 minutes. Ryan Waddell hammered a free kick towards goal, but the powerful shot was right at the goalie, who held well.
Clydebank were getting more confident, and 5 minutes later Michael Tolland missed what would be one of the key moments in the match. His creative runs causing problems in Arthurlie's defence, and he had a great chance to level the scores. But his lob went over, and the fans started to get that sinking feeling, of it not going to be our day.
Now started 12 minutes of no chances made, but strong and hard challenges, and Clydebank were picked apart, in particular by their number 4, who didn't get booked, yet deliberatly fouled intentionally at least 4 times. If this is the way they play in the Super-league, we'd better either hope for no injuries or give as good as we get.
On the half hour mark, Arthurlie tried to produce a chance from the left wing. They crossed the ball in, but the Bankies defence handled it well, and the chance was gone for 'Lie.
Clydebank battled on in the burning heatwave that descended upon Dunterlie Park, and on 38 minutes Ryan Waddell took a free kick. Instead of whacking it at the 'Lie goalie again, he passed it short to Pa...I mean, Trialist A, who instead hit HIS shot right at Sexton.
Arthurlie had a glorious chance to double their lead on 42 minutes, when they passed their way wonderfully up the park, going down the right hand wing, and they just tried to pass the ball into the net. Clydebank cleared this chance, but instantly 'Lie were attacking again, crossed into the box, but this time Halpin was on hand to parry it away.
On the stroke of half time, Clydebank made a chance out of nothing, a long ball hit up to the strikers, Sexton failed to deal with it properly, and Readie was on hand to round Sexton and fire it into the back of the net, to score his first ever goal for Clydebank. It was now Arthurlie 1-1 Clydebank, after 45 minutes.
The referee played a further minute, before blowing the whistle to end the half, and the score was:
ARTHURLIE 1-1 CLYDEBANK
The second half kicked off at 4pm exactly, but nothing was really created, chance-wise. Some more lunging Arthurlie tackles, midfield battle, and players trying to survive the horrible beating they were receiving from the sun.
No changes were made at half time, but Clydebank shuffled things at the back. McGuire and Fallen switched roles for the second half, to see how each of them would cope in the slightly different positions they found themselves in.
52 minutes - SUB: Ryan Waddell OFF, Mark Hailstones ON.
Mighty midgit Mark Hailstones came on, and within a minute he conceded a free kick. But luckily for Clydebank, the resulting shot was right at Halpin.
It was easy to notice a change in the flow of the game. Arthurlie had dominated superbly early on, but now it was Clydebank's turn to be in charge of the flow of the game. On 54 minutes, a Mark Hailstones shot was tipped wide from Sexton, which resulted in a corner kick. Sadly, though, no chance was created from this.
Just after an hour of play, and Clydebank attacked relentlessly, looking to take the lead. And when the ball rolled towards Dempsey from 35 yards out, he blasted it with all his might. And this shot sailed over the bar, only troubling the wee Arthurlie fans who were acting as ballboys.
Here's a pic of Clydebank attacking in the 2nd half, with Derek Readie nearby, after waiting ages for wee Paul to take his photo. And as soon as he turns around, he take the picture! Tough luck, Del...
64 minutes - SUB: Mark McGuire OFF, Danny Prior ON.
This change saw Graeme Dempsey slip into Mark McGuire's defensive position as a centre-back, while Danny Prior filled the vacant right-back position left by Dempsey.
On 66 minutes, Arthurlie beat the offside trap, but the volley from 'Lie trialist Kevin Miller was just wide. A minute later, another key moment in the game, as after John McIntyre put in a good challenge for the ball, Arthurlie still got a shot in, the ball sat up right in front of goal, but was ridiculously lobbed well over. Clydebank couldn't believe their luck, that the scores were still level.
68 minutes - SUB: Trialist A OFF, Trialist B ON.
Arthurlie were starting to dominate again, and 2 chances in 2 minutes saw a Kevin Miller shot go wide, and a Marc Ross header to also just nip past the post.
73 minutes - SUB: David Simeon ON, Derek Readie OFF.
Paul Halpin produced the save of the day on 76 minutes, from a Kevin Miller 35-yard rocket that was heading into the top corner. Halpin tipped it past the post, and his save received applause from both sets of fans. Clydebank immediately reacted to this, by having a chance a minute later, thanks to a John McIntyre free-kick. His cross was headed by Simeon, who failed to connect properly and it rolled wide of the goal.
Arthurlie, undeterred by this Clydebank opportunity, went back up the pitch and won a corner on 79 minutes. A free header was won, but the header itself went well over.
David Simeon had a chance to put Clydebank into the lead, when he chested the ball down and was one on one with only Sexton to beat. There was only 9 minutes left, so a goal at this stage in the match would've been a potential match-winner. But he dragged his poor shot past the post, and Clydebank fans just could not believe he missed.
Sinclair Soutar, who was phenomenal throughout the match, was booked on 84 minutes for a hard challenge. A minute later, Arthurlie create yet another chance, a shot just blazing wide of Halpin's goal.
With everyone thinking it was going to end in a well-deserved and respectful draw, Alan Waddell scrambled a header into the net to put 'Lie in the lead once again. A corner kick was whipped in to the edge of the box, which was headed towards Alan Waddell, whom I noted as a dangerman, who flicked it in to make the score Arthurlie 2-1 Clydebank, after 88 minutes.
Mark Hailstones tried to save the game for Clydebank, but his shot from the edge of the box swerved well wide. No other chances were made, and the final score on a sun-drenched day was: ARTHURLIE 2-1 CLYDEBANK
In-depth analysis
Clydebank were once again experimenting in positions that players can play in, and see if they adapted well to.
Starting from the back, Mick Fallen as the sweeper figure, with Soutar and McGuire being the other Centre backs, seemed to work well - until the 4th minute.
But after that, it worked rather effectively, and I can see how Fallen is proving to be a very good defender, and may be an indispensible member of Clydebank FC in the near future. People will remember his one mistake, of that passback. Nobody will remember how hard we worked for the other 86 minutes. He had a smashing game, as did Soutar, who took command at times for Clydebank at the back.
In midfield, Ryan Waddell, and Mark Hailstones, when he replaced him, were not really effective in those roles. Hailstones looked especially out of place. He's more suited to on the right wing, or up front.
Dempsey was more attacking, and came back well defensively as well. And John McIntyre was more defensive, but came forward to take set pieces. Both these players looked fine in these positions, and I'm especially impressed with Graeme Dempsey, for once again adapting to a position change, moving from right-back to centre back. For coping with change, and performing excellently today, he's my man of the match.
John McIntyre on the ball, preparing to hoof the ball up the park in hope that a chance will be made from it. You can see from the image that the centre backs help out the wing backs as much as possible, commanding at the back. Not a lot to see except some team-work in defence.
Clinton Maxwell did not seem suited for his central midfield role, and at times was yearning to run down that left hand wing, where in my opinion is where he's best. Trialist A had a good game, and received encouragement from fans for his skillful touches of the ball, and his ability to take on defenders well.
Up front, the dynamic duo of Tolland and Readie was not origianlly planned by Budgie. An injury during the warm-up for first-choice striker for the match David Simeon saw Tolland come in for him, and he gave the defence all sorts of problems with his speed.
Readie used his height to his advantage, although the 'Lie defence coped well with MOST high balls floated in Readie's path. The one exception is Readie's goal, his first for the club. We hope there'll be many more.
It's interesting to think that Budgie was planning to put 2 tall strikers on. He usually has one tall and one fast, so there's the best of both options on the pitch. But this time around, if not for injury, we may have seen what he had planned with this combination. Here's a diagram to show you the positions and runs made by the Clydebank squad:
Fans have named this match as Clydebank's best performance so far during pre-season, and a few were even thinking it was the best so far, since being re-formed. Joe Allison was not participating in today's match, with a slight injury. He WAS at the game, I believe...still, he says he'll be fine to play on Wednesday, so there's good news from one of our most promising players. Mark Kirkpatrick was another absentee, and he may play on Wednesday.
And looking ahead to Wednesday, will Budgie want to field his strongest team? Will he want to commit to a good Secitional League Cup run, or prioritise and concentrate on the league and perhaps the OVD Cup? We may win our group easily, but would the FANS want to? So many questions, and hopefully some will be answered on Wednesday evening, at home to Vale of Clyde.
Man of the Match: GRAEME DEMPSEY
"You're a Super-league side, waiting to happen"
A quote from a dedicated Arthurlie fan. Thank you to the 'Lie fans for being so hospitable and welcoming, it is appreciated by every Bankies fan who made the trip.
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