Clydebank 0
Alloa Athletic 2
League (Division 2)

Match Report

Alloa Athletic emerged victorious from Kilbowie Park, securing a well-deserved 2-0 win thanks to a brace from their in-form striker McCallan.

Clydebank, featuring new signing Bobby Love, fielded a team that lacked conviction throughout the match. They rarely threatened the Alloa goal and seemed content to simply contain their opponents.

McCallan opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a well-taken strike. Receiving the ball just outside the box, he drove forward before unleashing a shot that deceived the Clydebank defence. Ernie Collumbine's desperate attempt to block the effort was in vain, with the ball squirming past Dick Madden and nestling in the corner of the net.

The second half saw a similar pattern unfold. Alloa dominated possession and peppered the Clydebank goal with attacks. They finally put the game to bed with five minutes remaining. Muir, lively on the Alloa right wing, delivered a pinpoint cross to McCallan lurking in the penalty area. The striker made no mistake, blasting the ball past a helpless Dick Madden to claim his second goal of the match.

The match started on a heavy pitch, with Alloa immediately taking the initiative. Dick Madden was forced into a sharp save early on to deny a dangerous Muir effort. Clydebank struggled to get a foothold in the game, and it took them almost a quarter of an hour to register their first attempt. A long-range effort from Alan Munro was comfortably dealt with by Alloa goalkeeper Matchett.

While Clydebank's attack sputtered, Alloa's passing and movement were impressive. Their forwards were a constant menace, and their defence stood firm under any pressure.

The first Alloa goal seemed to briefly rouse the Clydebank defence, but the improvement was short-lived. Alloa continued to dominate, with Dick Madden making a string of saves to prevent a more emphatic scoreline.

Ian Hawkshaw provided a rare moment of brilliance for Clydebank just before halftime, unleashing a powerful shot that forced Matchett into a spectacular save.

The second half mirrored the first, with Alloa piling on the pressure. Clydebank showed glimpses of attacking intent, particularly through Love and Hawkshaw, but they lacked the cutting edge to truly trouble the Alloa defence.

The only blemish on an otherwise clean game was a nasty foul by Alloa's Ure on Clydebank's O'Brien, which rightly resulted in a yellow card.

The final whistle confirmed Alloa's deserved victory. Clydebank were comprehensively outplayed and must learn from their lacklustre performance. Alloa, on the other hand, can be proud of their clinical finishing and overall dominance.

Match report written by and adapted by Stuart McBay