Clydebank 0
Forfar Ath 1
League (Division 2)

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Clydebank
0 - 1
 Forfar Ath

League (Division 2)
Saturday, March 7th, 1970
New Kilbowie Park. Att. 827
3:00 PM Kick-off
Goalscorers
None. Dick (7)

Team Managers
Jack Steedman
 Unknown.

Starting Eleven
1 Dick Madden
2 Davie Mitchell
3 Danny Gray
4 Dennis Ruddy
5 Jim Fallon
6 Dougie Hay
7 John McGunnigle
8 Bobby Love
9 Paul McMillan
10 Alan Munro
11 Jimmy Caskie
 Ian Beatson 1
Milne 2
Cairns 3
Knox 4
Hopcroft 5
Sime 6
Waddell 7
Kinnear 8
Dick 9
May 10
Stewart 11

Bench
12 Tommy McGhee
 McKinnon 12

Substitutions
Tommy McGhee for John McGunnigle (75)
 None.

Cautions
None. None.

Red Cards
None. None.
Match Officials

J Roberts (Referee)



Match Report

Clydebank Press

How did the 'Bankies manage to lose this game? By all accounts they should have had a "walk-over", but no matter how they tried they could just not find an equalising goal.

Immediately the game got underway Forfar started a devastating attack, an attack which completely took the Bankies by surprise. Forfar kept the ball well away from the Clydebank forwards, playing very close, low football which just could not be beaten.

The only goal of the match came in the seventh minute when a free kick by Knox found Dick, who sent a header flying into the back of the Bankies net.

Shocked by this opening, the Bankies immediately took stock of the situation. They brought the ball under their control and kept it for the rest of the match. Moving down the wing, Munro tried unsuccessfully to put a shot in the opposition's net.

The first half continued in this fashion, Clydebank making all the moves but just not getting anywhere. It they tried a little teamwork they could have easily made their efforts worthwhile.

But with Gerry O'Brien off to Southampton, they were reminiscent of a ship without a rudder.

As the whistle sounded for the start of the second half, the Bankies went straight into attack, moving the ball easily through the opposition defence. But their efforts were wasted.

Forfar retaliated with a sprint toward the Bankies net, but they were quickly stopped by Gray and Ruddy, who, with some skilful football, managed to clear the ball away.

This game developed into a battle of nerves, for although there was not much constructive play the ball was being chased from one end of the field to the other without any harm being done.

The pressure which the Bankies were exerting eventually bore fruit in the last ten minutes, when they managed to force four corners in five minutes.

The pace was proving too much for the babes, for they played these four corners as if their life depended on them. They hammered the ball without thinking, and all their efforts were for nothing.

This was one of those games where one side deserved to win but just did not make it. The Bankies should have won. They did all the work, they tried to make the breaks, but it was they who lost the match.

A lot of excuses can be made for the Bankies - the loss of Gerry O'Brien for one but making excuses will not change the situation of losing to a rather insignificant team.

Forfar Despatch

Forfar travelled to meet Clydebank on Saturday and provided their supporters with a welcome surprise when they took both points. The team was much on the same lines as that which beat Brechin the previous week. May moved to inside-left to make way for Waddell on the right wing. McKinnon stood by as substitute.

The Loons went ahead in the ninth minute when Dick judged the flight of a Knox free-kick to perfection and headed the ball beyond Madden's reach. The reverse stung the homesters into action and the Forfar defence took a terrific pounding. Try as they might, however, the Clydebank forwards failed to turn their advantage into goals. Ian Beatson of Coupar Angus performed heroics between the posts and he was well supported by Milne, Cairns and Hopcroft. When the situation looked like becoming more than the defence could handle, the other Forfar players were always prepared to fall back to assist.

In an effort to salvage at least one point Clydebank continued to dominate play and kept up the pressure, but the Forfar defence stuck manfully to their task and gave nothing away.

In the Forfar breakaways Kenny Dick looked the best of the forwards.

The home team having been in command for so much of the game, the Clydebank supporters could be excused for thinking victory ought to have been theirs, but they were the first to acknowledge that on this occasion the Athletic's defence was one of the best they had seen this season.

Repeat performances would be appreciated by the Forfar fans, for too often has the defence been found wanting in recent games.

Sunday Post

A simple goal early in the first half cost Clydebank the match. The home side stood rooted to the spot and when Dick ran between them to nod a Knox free-kick behind Madden, that was it.

The midweek departure of O'Brien to Southampton certainly took some of the drive out of the Clydebank attack, but they still created and scorned enough chances to win the game comfortably.

However, the Forfar side must be given credit for their drive and enthusiasm, and their determination to be first to the ball went a long way to earning both points.

Best for Clydebank were Mitchell, Gray, Ruddy and Caskie. Cairns, Knox, Hopcroft and May were the top visitors.

Sunday Mail

Clydebank lost both points in what should have been a decisive home win against Forfar.

The home side failed to score despite having control of the ball throughout almost the whole 90 minutes.

The goal that shattered Clydebank's chances came in the ninth minute. A free-kick taken by Knox found centre-forward Dick's head soaring above the Clydebank defence.

The last 10 minutes produced the best football of the match, with Clydebank forcing four corners in as many minutes.



Squad Statistics (as at March 7th, 1970)

1969-70 All Time
League Cups All
Dick Madden (GK) 11 - 5 - 93 -
Danny Gray 26 - 10 - 45 -
Jim Fallon 23 - 102684
Paul McMillan 14 - 2 - 394
Davie Mitchell 25 - 10 - 1444
Dennis Ruddy 28 - 6 - 74 -
Dougie Hay 23110 - 832
Bobby Love 26 - 91602
John McGunnigle 6 - 1 - 191
Jimmy Caskie 28111048128
Alan Munro 27101056930
Tommy McGhee (sub) 22710312722







Recent Results

League results since Clydebank's last match
3rd March 1970
Falkirk4-1Albion Rovers
4th March 1970
Queen's Park2-1Arbroath
7th March 1970
Alloa Athletic0-1Queen of South
Arbroath5-0Dumbarton
Berwick Rangers3-0Stirling Albion
Brechin City2-0East Stirlingshire
Clydebank0-1Forfar Ath
Falkirk5-0Montrose
Hamilton Accies3-2Stenhousemuir
Stranraer4-2East Fife

League Table (as at March 7th, 1970)

Pld W D L +/- Pts
1. Cowdenbeath 29 20 6 3 +44 46
2. Queen of South 29 18 5 6 +19 41
3. Arbroath 30 18 3 9 +37 39
4. Falkirk 24 17 3 4 +40 37
5. Stirling Albion 29 14 8 7 +20 36
6. Alloa Athletic 28 16 3 9 +20 35
7. Dumbarton 28 14 6 8 +11 34
8. Berwick Rangers 27 14 4 9 +21 32
9. East Fife 28 11 4 13 -3 26
10. Montrose 27 9 6 12 -7 24
11. Albion Rovers 26 9 4 13 -9 22
12. Queen's Park 29 9 4 16 -15 22
13. Clydebank 28 7 8 13 -19 22
14. Forfar Ath 29 10 1 18 -22 21
15. Stenhousemuir 31 8 4 19 -43 20
16. Brechin City 25 8 3 14 -20 19
17. East Stirlingshire 26 7 5 14 -22 19
18. Hamilton Accies 29 7 4 18 -29 18
19. Stranraer 28 7 3 18 -23 17