Match Report
Clydebank finally put some daylight between themselves and the foot of the Second Division with a 3-1 victory over East Stirlingshire at Kilbowie.
The sides had started the afternoon locked together on six points, making this a particularly important encounter for two clubs already finding life difficult at the bottom of the table. There was also a familiar look to the opposition, with East Stirlingshire fielding four players who had previously appeared for ES Clydebank: Brian Miller, Tommy Craig, Arthur Hamill and Bobby Jones. The clubs were hardly strangers by this stage, however, having already met at Kilbowie in the League Cup in August when Clydebank won 3-0.
The Bankies made the better start and were ahead after only 12 minutes. Frank Russell found the net with a powerful shot from around 15 yards and Clydebank continued to press for much of the opening half-hour without being able to add to their lead.
East Stirlingshire gradually worked their way into the match and after the interval it was the visitors who enjoyed more of the play. Their problem was turning that possession into a serious threat. The Falkirk Herald felt Shire's finishing never matched their outfield play, while Clydebank's defence stood firm as the slender one-goal advantage survived deep into the second half.
With nine minutes remaining Russell finally gave the Bankies breathing space. This time there was no need to look for an assist as the centre-forward did the damage himself, breaking through the East Stirlingshire defence before firing past goalkeeper Alex Davie for his second of the afternoon.
Barely a minute later it was 3-0. Tony Moy collected the ball on the left and sent a spectacular effort beyond Davie, two goals in the space of a minute transforming what had been an anxious afternoon into a convincing-looking victory.
East Stirlingshire continued to battle and gained some reward in the closing minutes when Arthur Hamill crossed for Joe Connelly to score, but it did little more than reduce the final margin.
For Clydebank, the importance of the result went beyond a second League victory of the season. Having taken a useful point from fourth-placed Hamilton the previous week, they had now collected three points from two matches and moved two points clear of East Stirlingshire at the bottom of the table. There was still a considerable gap to the clubs above them, but after such a difficult opening to their first Second Division campaign there were at last signs that the Bankies might be beginning to find their feet.
Match report written by Stuart McBay
