Clydebank 1
Largs Thistle 1
League (Super Division One)


Clydebank
1 - 1
 Largs Thistle

League (Super Division One)
Saturday, May 3rd, 2008
Glenhead Park. Att. 235
2:00 PM Kick-off

Goalscorers
Alan Jack (88)
James Marks (80)

Team Managers
Billy McGhie
Unknown.

Starting Eleven
1 Barry John Corr
2 Paul Allum
3 Sinclair Soutar
4 Jerry Packham
5 John Cunningham
6 Andy Kenna
7 Paul Craig
8 Gordon Lappin
9 Mark Hailstones
10 James Lennox
11 David Fisher
Ryan McWilliams 1
Thomas Molloy 2
Scott McNicol 3
Stuart Hendren 4
Neil Shearer 5
Kevin McCann 6
Willie McClure 7
Alan McCabe 8
James Marks 9
Tam Jamieson 10
Martin Dow 11

Bench
12 Alan Jack
14 Peter Jordan
15 Kevin Proctor
16 Brian Miller
18 Stefan Gonet
John Robertson 12
Graham Black 14
Gus Gault 15
Ryan McColl 16
Stephen Connick 17

Substitutions
Brian Miller for James Lennox (58)
Alan Jack for Mark Hailstones (73)
Kevin Proctor for John Cunningham (82)
Gus Gault -> Martin Dow (52)
John Robertson -> Thomas Molloy (63)
Ryan McColl -> Scott McNicol (72)

Cautions
None. James Marks (23)
Thomas Molloy (38)

Red Cards
Paul Craig (66)
None.
Match Officials

Don Robertson (Referee)
Scott Love & Kenny Hay (Assistants)


Match Report


An Alan Jack free kick salvaged a point for 10 man Bankies against Largs Thistle in the dying minutes of a match that looked destined to become Clydebank's fourth consecutive home defeat.

With Paul Craig being ordered off earlier in the half, and the visitors taking the lead with only ten minutes remaining, the Bankies supporters seemed resigned to another defeat.

However, when Andy Kenna was fouled just outside the box with only minutes remaining, Alan Jack stepped up to sweetly strike the free kick into the net. This was Jack's fourteenth goal of the season, and could be one of the most vital as the Bankies desperately look to reverse their fortunes.

Coming into this match the Bankies had only recorded one victory in their last nine league matches, and were in desperate need of a result as they had slipped into the relegation zone.

In a tense opening to the match, neither side were showing much in the way of incisive play. Paul Craig scuffed at shot straight at McWilliams early on, and Lennox headed over the bar from a Fisher free kick.

Clydebank had the better of the early stages without testing the Largs Keeper. Allum headed the ball in the direction of Hailstones in the box, but the Bankies front man, who recently notched up 150 appearances for the club, could not find the strength to trouble McWilliams.

As the half hour approached, Largs had their first good chance of the match when Molloy showed neat skill in lobbing the ball over Lappin, before volleying the ball past the post.

A minute later, and the Bankies were denied a penalty. Hailstones appeared to be blatantly impeded as he tried to reach a cross ball, however the ref allowed play to continue

As half time approached, Molloy and Marks both found their way into the refs book for fouls whilst McClure brought proceedings to an end for the break with a shot the was miles off target.

Goals have been at a premium for the Bankies recently, and with chances already thin on the ground in this match, the supporters felt that any decent chance that presented itself would have to be taken.

Only three minutes into the second period and such an opportunity arrived. A delightful ball over the top from Soutar found Hailstones in good space. However, he did not strike the ball cleanly, and the Keeper was able to make a comfortable diving save at his near post.

Largs, needing victory to keep their slim promotion hopes alive, were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, but Molloy wasted the opportunity by blasting the free kick several yards over the bar.

The match was starting to have all the hallmarks of a goalless draw when events took a swing in Thistle's favour. Clydebank had earned a corner, and Paul Craig was jostling in the box when a Largs player went down. The ref was immediately surrounded by angry Thistle defenders. and although he didn't see the incident, the linesman had his flag up. After a short consultation, Craig was ordered from the pitch and the Bankies were in trouble.

Largs upped the pace as they sensed they could use the extra man to their advantage. Despite a goal not looking likely, Largs finally did take the lead after 80 minutes when Marks stole in at the near post ahead of Soutar to calmly side foot past Corr.

This script was becoming all too familiar for the Bankies support, and when Largs almost doubled their lead from a Marks lob, that had packham scurrying to his own goal line to clear, then their didn't seem any way back

However, with time almost gone Alan Jack fired in the free kick to earn a draw for the home side which over the piece was just about deserved.

Under the circumstances, a draw was a fair result. If the Bankies are to stay in this division, then they need more invention in front of goal as 5 goals in 9 games - 2 penalties and a free kick among them - is relegation form.Next up in the league is Vale of Clyde and Kilwinning away from home, both of whom are vying for the second promotion spot. The task ahead could not be more daunting.




Squad Statistics (as at May 3rd, 2008)


2007-08 All Time
League Cups All
Barry John Corr (GK) 9 - 6 - 15 -
James Lennox 153131284
Sinclair Soutar 13 - 8 - 83 -
John Cunningham 11 - 11 - 645
Paul Allum 10 - 121361
Jerry Packham 5 - 7 - 12 -
Mark Hailstones 16113715240
Andy Kenna 1661126214
Gordon Lappin 1511359816
Paul Craig 132127259
David Fisher 9 - 81728
Brian Miller (sub) 6 - 71131
Alan Jack (sub) 1391354516
Kevin Proctor (sub) 4 - 3 - 7 -







Recent Results


League results since Clydebank's last match
3rd May 2008
Annbank United2-1Vale of Clyde
Clydebank1-1Largs Thistle
Johnstone Burgh0-5Troon
Kilwinning Rgrs2-0East Kilbride Th
Kirk Rob Roy1-0Kilbirnie Lade
Maryhill3-3Maybole
Renfrew5-0Lesmahagow

League Table (as at May 3rd, 2008)


Pld W D L +/- Pts
1. Kirk Rob Roy 23 17 2 4 +28 53
2. Kilwinning Rgrs 22 13 4 5 +25 43
3. Vale of Clyde 24 12 7 5 +9 43
4. Largs Thistle 25 10 9 6 +3 39
5. Kilbirnie Lade 21 11 3 7 +25 36
6. Maybole 20 9 4 7 +2 31
7. East Kilbride Th 21 8 6 7 -3 30
8. Renfrew 22 7 5 10 -1 26
9. Annbank United 20 8 0 12 -4 24
10. Maryhill 19 6 3 10 -20 21
11. Clydebank 16 4 6 6 -1 18
12. Troon 22 4 6 12 -15 18
13. Lesmahagow 18 3 8 7 -5 17
14. Johnstone Burgh 19 0 5 14 -43 5