Clydebank 3
Raith Rovers 2
League (Division 2)

Match Report

Seven games without defeat! That's Bankies proud record to date and this must by far be the best win of the whole season.

Raith Rovers are standing second in the Second Division, but this result could upset them especially as Bankies are standing second from bottom.

Tony Moy was the killer of the Rovers hopes. He scored two goals, and Joe Rankin got the winner three minutes from time.

Match report written by Mark Cook (Clydebank Press)

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Two goals in the last eight minutes sent Rovers slipping and slithering to a shock defeat at Kilbowie Park on Tuesday-in a game which they should have won comfortably.

The great art robbers were amateurs compared to the men of Clydebank who should never have been in this game with a chance. Rovers had 75 per cent of the pressure, and only in the last ten minutes did the Bankies show as an attacking force. But in these ten minutes they snatched two goals-and two points.

Even although part of the Costa Clyde's beaches decorated the pitch, conditions were, to say the least, a little tricky underfoot. Indeed Fife Flyers might have been more at home on the surface.

It would be true to say that the ground cost the Kirkcaldy side the vital second, and equalising goal, scored with only eight minutes left.

While Raith were still recovering from the shock of that one. Clydebank attacked again, and when the ball wasn't properly cleared from defence.

It had appeared as though the Fifers were playing out time, waiting to collect their winning bonus, a bonus which would have been deserved on the run of play. when outside-right Rankin swung over a cross to inside-left Moy. He tried a spectacular-looking hook shot which went straight for Reid. But the ball hit the flint-hard ground about six feet in front of the keeper, and bounced, crazily over his shoulder into the net. It was a piece of shocking luck. I must add I don't think Reid was to blame. The shot was taken at knee height. rose no more than that height until it bounced, yet rose to almost six feet high!

Rankin stepped in to score the winner. The Raith side was stunned, their supporters were stunned. Even the home fans, I'm sure. were stunned, for Clydebank were a lucky side to take both points.

They had gone ahead against the run of play, and it looked as if justice would be done when the Kirkcaldy side went into a 2-1 lead. But it just wasn't to be.

Ian Porterfield again emerged as the man of the match. Just as on the previous day, his footwork was a delight on the hard surface, and his passing often tore gaping holes in the Clydebank defence. Up front Wallace and Richardson were the men who mattered, with both having some ill luck when it came to finishing.

The result was a bad one from the point of view that Raith lost to a side near the foot of the table, but in view of the Kilbowie side's recent league record it isn't so surprising.

The Clydebank announcer gave the first word of warning to the four bus-loads of Raith supporters who travelled for the match, when he announced that the Bankies hadn't lost one of their last seven matches. That's no mean record, and when the announcer added calmly that he hoped the Kilbowie fans would have something more to cheer in the future, it was obvious the West Coast side meant business.

But for the first quarter of an hour, it didn't look that way. for the Kirkcaldy side had the bulk of the pressure, and the inside trio all had shots which went very close.

In practically their first attack, however, Bankies took the lead.

Centre Russell parted to Moy, who from an acute angle cut the ball past Reid into the corner of the net.

After all that had gone before. that was a real shock, but Rovers really got to work after that, and threw everything at the home side apart from the ships taking shape on the near by River Clyde.

Miller, Gardner and Richardson all had tries which went narrowly past before the Fife side equalised just after half-hour mark.

Although Johnny Richardson was the scorer, I'm sure he won't mind if I give some of the credit to Gordon Wallace, who set up the chance.

John McDonald broke down the left wing, and gave Wallace a very awkward pass at chest-height. However, even with the centre-half almost standing on his toes, he controlled the ball beautifully, and swept it across, all in one movement, for Richardson to beat McLaughlin to the jump and nod home.

On the resumption, Rovers started where they left off. With the inactive Bobby Reid desperately trying to keep warm at the other end. Rovers attacked almost incessantly, and in 56 minutes went ahead with a weird goal. Wallace was the scorer. He challenged McLaughlin as the tall 'keeper was kicking the ball out, and it ricocheted from his boot into goal. However, fluke or not, it counted and gave Rovers a deserved lead.

Right up to the final ten minutes. Rovers were on top. and a Wallace shot which hit the post, a Gardner header which the 'keeper saved, and a Miller shot through McLaughlin's legs which slipped tantalisingly past the post were all evidence of the Fife side's superiority. It seemed only a matter of playing out time. but the Bankies managed to steal their goals-and the points.

Match Report by Sandridge (Fife Free Press)