Alloa Athletic 1
Clydebank 1
League (Division 2)

Match Report

Clydebank earned a hard-fought point at Recreation Park in a match that saw both sides struggle for fluency but ultimately settle for a share of the spoils. With three regulars missing—including suspended duo Tommy McGhee and Willie McCallum, as well as injured sweeper Ernie Collumbine—the Bankies fielded two trialists from St Roch’s, Lees and Slavin, and could be well satisfied with the result.

Frank Russell, deployed on the left wing but often drifting inside, was the standout player on the park and deservedly grabbed the late equaliser in the 87th minute. His performance was a constant thorn in Alloa’s side, and had it not been for some fine saves by home keeper Adam Hodge, Clydebank might have taken all the points.

Alloa, seeking to halt a run of five straight defeats, made several changes to their line-up. Their new signing Jim Brennan, brought in from St Andrews United, made the most of his opportunity by scoring the opener on 23 minutes. After being played in by Marshall, Brennan ghosted past Clydebank full-back Graham Small and drilled a low shot into the far corner beyond MacLachlan. It was a well-taken goal in an otherwise disjointed attacking display from the home side.

Despite flashes of endeavour, the match lacked quality in the final third from both teams. Alloa’s forward line, much like Clydebank’s, suffered from a lack of cohesion. Marshall had some dangerous moments on the flanks, and Brennan looked lively, but the Wasps failed to maintain sustained pressure. A late effort from Peter Smith was ruled out for offside.

Clydebank's equaliser had been coming, largely due to the persistent efforts of Russell. Having seen multiple efforts denied by Hodge, Russell finally got his reward with three minutes remaining, driving a low 18-yard shot past the Alloa keeper to earn his side a point.

Given the absences in the Clydebank side and the experimental nature of the Alloa team, a draw was probably a fair result. The Bankies, though far from their best, showed resilience and improvement from earlier in the season. Alloa, meanwhile, continue to search for a winning formula, with their attacking frailties remaining a pressing concern.

Match report written by Stuart McBay