Yoker 2-1 Clydebank

The first Clydebank derby of the season ended in a Yoker victory, and a certain Eddie Higgins will be particulary delighted with the score.

The match was played in front of a large crowd, consisting mainly of Bankies fans.  And ex-Bankie Eddie Higgins started out on the bench, while enduring Joey Muir and co singing their hearts out throughout the match, with such classics like "Shall we sing a song for you?" and "Little Old Wine Drinker Me.".

Clydebank fielded the exact same 11 as last week, same positions as well.  So the team, at first, looked like this:

Clydebank had a dreadful start, as Yoker were the better side and scored early on through a header from a corner.  Yoker 6 scored with a header which sailed into the top corner, poor marking but Yoker took the chance well to make it Yoker 1-0 Clydebank, after 4 minutes.

Yoker didn't hold back, and a header went wide on 7 minutes.  Clydebank were looking rattled, and their first chance of the match fell to Crawford, who headed it right at the keeper for an easy save just after 10 minutes.

Clydebank's best chance of the first half came from a cross on the left wing in to Des Kelly, who scuffed his shot off the keeper, but retrieved the ball and set up Mark Hailstones on the edge of the box, but he blasted over the bar.

Clydebank kept pushing for the equaliser, and on 17 minutes Joe Allison volleyed a shot, but it was easily dealt with by Yoker's number 1.

Yoker were playing a rough match, but were getting away with a lot, and also Clydebank were penalised for challenges that weren't actually fouls.  With 18 minutes gone, Yoker 3 was booked for a reckless foul.

Clydebank were still searching for a goal, and Ryan Waddell was unlucky on 21 minutes as his shot was well dealth with.  2 minutes later, a cross/shot from Hailstones on the right caught out the keeper, and it just went over the bar.  Clydebank's star defender headed a Ryan Waddell corner just wide of goal on 26 minutes, and Yoker were still holding on to their lead.

Chances were coming thick and fast.  A Joe Allison free kick on the half hour was flicked on by Maxwell, but once again it was right at the keeper.  A minute later, Stephen Mehigan had pulled out a good stop from a low and bobbly shot.  Clydebank then went and attacked, as Ryan Waddell won posession in midfield and ran towards the Whe Ho's shaky defence, but his shot went well wide.

Clydebank were creating several minor chances, but no real serious chances were being carved out.  With 36 minutes gone, Derek Readie was in a 50-50 with Yoker's goalkeeper, who came off the worse of the collision.  The referee saw fit to book Derek Readie for this incident, which brought anger from the Bankies faithful.

As Clydebank looked like their persistance MIGHT pay off, Yoker dented the Bankies' chances furthermore by scoring from an indirect free-kick 25 yards from goal.  It was curled into Meghi's left hand corner, the side he was on.  But as Stevie Latimer pointed out to me after the match, as it was an indirect free kick, the ball had to be knocked on for 1 full ball roll, or summit like that.  The other player just had his foot on the ball, so it wasn't properly taken.  Still, the goal stood, and the score was now Yoker 2-0 Clydebank, after 37 minutes.

Yoker kept this momentum going, and came very close 2 minutes from half time, with a shot just going past the post.  The referee blew for half-time, and the score was:

Yoker 2-0 Clydebank

The second half brought a Bankies substitution, with Allison going off for Wilson.  A change of formation also went ahead, and as the team kicked off the 2nd half, this is how we looked:

The second half kicked off, and a foul only 2 minutes in saw Yoker 5 receive a booking.  Then on 54 minutes, Des Kelly hit a free kick not far over the bar.  And 3 minutes later saw Derek Readie being brought down inside the box, only for the referee to tell him to get up.  The ball had fell to Clinton Maxwell, who shot well wide of goal.  Bankies fans were fuming at the referee's decision not to give a penalty, and Yoker had got away with it.

Not long after the hour saw Yoker pass up a glorious chance to put Clydebank out of contention, but from a yard out, and an empty net, it was hit wide of goal.  The long ball had caught out the Bankies defence, and we almost paid for it.

Yoker were once again in trouble after 68 minutes, their number 2 being booked.  A few minutes later saw Clinton Maxwell shoot over the bar.  A change was made after this chance, seeing Derek Readie go off for Michael Tolland.

With only 15 minutes to go, Yoker squandered another chance to seal the win when they headed wide of goal.  And Clydebank went right up the pitch and scored a goal, after a clearance was blocked and it fell kindly to Maxwell, who squeezed the ball in past the keeper.  It brought the fans back to life, and Yoker were now thinking the best methods to waste time.  It was now Yoker 2-1 Clydebank, after 76 minutes.

Clinton Maxwell and Ryan Waddell linked well together, and Waddell set up Maxwell for a shot on the edge of the box.  It was saved comfortably, though.  Then a minute later, Mick Fallen received a booking, after he was punched in the face!  This stop in play saw Clydebank make their final substitution.  Clinton Maxwell made way for the out-of-favour Graeme Dempsey.

With time fast running out, Crawford conceded a free kick with 4 minutes remaining.  The wall does it's job well, though, blocking the shot.  And with only 2 minutes to go, Wilson turned and shot well, but it was saved by the keeper's body, and as the keeper pounced to gather the ball, Bankies knew that it wouldn't be their day.  A good bit of injury time was played, but no other chances were created, and it ended:

Yoker 2-1 Clydebank

In-depth Analysis

Clydebank played their exact same side as we did against Vale of Leven.  No change means Yoker pretty much knew what to expect, and were prepared for our style of play.

Their pitch wasn't that good to play football on, so there was little chance of free-flowing football being played.  That suited Yoker perfectly, as they played a rough game, kicking and punching at every chance.  The referee let a bit of their antics slip, but what REALLY annoyed Clydebank fans and management alike was how Clydebank were being penalised for nothing.  We had a stonewall penalty waved away, Fallen was punched and no punishment was given and Yoker were playing a dirty game, and most were surprised that Yoker still had 11 men on the park.

Clydebank did not really play in the first half, so it's pointless doing a "runs" diagram for them.  Look at the Vale of Leven match report, then minus MOST runs.  It really WAS a god-awful first half. 

The 2nd half had some bright moments, and Paul Wilson seemed very effective as he made runs into attack.  Personal opinion is that we need Dempsey and McGuire in the side, and even though Dempsey and Budgie seem to have some sort of hostility between them, Graeme can do the business on the park, and he is usually one of the few voices on the park.  We need someone between defence and midfield, and McGuire would be suited to that role.  Here's a diagram of 2nd half runs made:

Man of the Match: Clinton Maxwell