Morton 6
Clydebank 0
League (Division 2)

Match Report

On paper, a 6–0 defeat suggests a rout—but while Clydebank were well beaten at Cappielow, the scoreline doesn't quite tell the full story. The Bankies were up against a Morton side in rampant form, and on the day, little went right for the visitors—from a broken-down team bus to an early onslaught that left them reeling.

The match kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes as the Clydebank team only arrived at the ground after a soggy detour in an open van—hardly ideal preparation. Just three minutes in, Morton took full advantage of the Bankies’ disrupted start when Borthwick opened the scoring. He added two more in the 24th and 25th minutes to complete a devastating early hat-trick.

Despite the scoreline, Clydebank were not without their moments. McDonald went close with a powerful free-kick from the edge of the box, which curled dangerously across goal with Collumbine just inches away from converting. Shortly after, Sorensen in the Morton goal had to act quickly to smother a ball as Collumbine closed in on a Cummings pass.

While Morton poured forward with wave after wave of attacks, Clydebank showed real spirit, particularly in midfield. Jenkins at right-half put in a tireless shift and was the standout performer, linking well with Cummings to create one of Clydebank’s best chances of the match. McGhee also impressed at left-half, though his injury in the second half came just as the Bankies were starting to steady themselves.

Morton’s fourth came in the 34th minute, when Boyd—their adventurous right-back—delivered a cross that Mason duly headed home. Five minutes later, Gray made it five, and just before the break, 17-year-old winger Harper added a sixth to round off a punishing first half.

To their credit, Clydebank showed resilience after the interval, restricting Morton to a single goal—the second from Harper in the 65th minute. Defensively, they tightened up, and goalkeeper Wilson had a fine match, pulling off several smart stops to keep the score down. Without his efforts, the defeat could have been even more severe.

The need for a reliable goalscorer remains glaring. Too often, Clydebank's forwards seemed hesitant, opting to pass responsibility or relying on instinct rather than any composed finishing. It's an area that will need urgent attention as the club continues its transition to senior football.

After the match, manager Jack Steedman was frank: “The fact that the bus broke down made no difference to our play. If we had come in Rolls Royces, Morton would still have beaten us.”

For Clydebank, this was another harsh lesson in the unforgiving world of senior football. But amid the setbacks, there are signs of promise. The resolve shown in the second half—and the performances of players like Jenkins and Wilson—suggest this young team has the character to persevere. The journey is clearly going to be long, but the foundations are slowly being laid.

Match report written by Stuart McBay