Match Report
Clydebank recovered well from their heavy defeat at Cowdenbeath to earn a creditable point from a goalless draw against fourth-placed Hamilton Academical at Douglas Park.
The Bankies faced a side which had been playing First Division football the previous season, but there was little between the teams for much of the afternoon. Both were capable of constructing promising moves through midfield, only for poor finishing to let them down when they reached the business end of the pitch.
Hamilton had by far the best opportunity to break the deadlock after half an hour when John McGill handled inside the penalty area. Johnny Vint took the resulting spot kick but struck the upright, with the ball rebounding clear.
Clydebank continued to compete well and Frank Russell, Tony Moy and Willie McCallum were their most effective performers going forward. At the other end McGill had an excellent game at centre-half, matching the performance of Hamilton's Jim Small as the two defences kept a firm grip on proceedings.
There was rather more edge to the game after the interval. Bobby Gaughan of Hamilton and Ernie Collumbine had their names taken, while several others were fortunate to escape similar punishment. Hamilton also lost John Gilmour through injury five minutes into the second half, Jackie Mordie taking his place.
Neither side, however, could find the quality in front of goal needed to settle the match and Clydebank held on comfortably enough for their fourth draw of the League campaign. It was their first clean sheet in the competition and a considerably more encouraging performance than the previous week's 4-0 defeat at Cowdenbeath.
The point kept the Bankies in 19th place, level with East Stirlingshire at the bottom of the table but just ahead on goal difference. With the two clubs due to meet at Kilbowie the following week, Clydebank now had an immediate opportunity to put some daylight between themselves and the foot of the table.
Match report written by Stuart McBay
