Clydebank 0
Third Lanark 2
League (Division 2)

Match Report

Clydebank slumped to one of their poorest performances of the season with a flat and uninspired display against a determined Third Lanark side at Kilbowie.

Just days after matching top-tier Motherwell in a midweek friendly, hopes were high for another strong showing. But from the outset, the Bankies lacked drive and cohesion, and their attacking play never really sparked into life. Only Tony Moy offered a consistent threat up front, and even he found Thirds goalkeeper Russell in fine form, denying him several times from close-range headers.

The first half was largely forgettable—scrappy, disjointed, and short on quality. Neither side looked particularly dangerous until the 20th minute when Thirds took the lead. A cross into the box caused confusion, and although Clydebank blocked the initial effort, centre-forward Stewart capitalised on the rebound as the ball deflected off a defender and looped into the roof of the net.

After the break, Third Lanark took control. Their attacks became more incisive and only some last-ditch defending from Clydebank—at times more desperate than composed—kept the scoreline down. The visitors doubled their lead in the 62nd minute when Connell swung over a precise cross and Stewart timed his run perfectly to glance a header past a helpless Sandy McLachlan.

With the game effectively settled, Bankies tried to rally but found Thirds’ well-organised defence impenetrable. A few moments of promise from Frank Russell and Moy briefly raised hopes, but poor finishing and a lack of final ball quality let them down time and again.

John Stewart, deputising for Joe Rankin on the wing, had a lively game and did his best to stretch the Thirds back line, but he too suffered from the general lack of support and end product.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Clydebank, who never recovered from their slow start and looked a shadow of the side that impressed just days earlier.

Match report written by Stuart McBay