Match Report
Clydebank suffered their second defeat in three Combined Reserve League matches when they went down 2-1 to Airdrie Reserves at Kilbowie.
Although the final score favoured the visitors, the match was one of two contrasting halves. Airdrie held the upper hand before the interval and deserved their two-goal advantage, while Clydebank responded strongly in the second half and came close to salvaging a point.
The opening stages were evenly contested, with both sides creating opportunities and neither able to gain a decisive advantage. Clydebank's attack showed promise through brothers Andy and Jimmy O'Brien on the left flank, and several well-worked moves earned the approval of the sizeable home support.
The breakthrough came after 25 minutes when Airdrie were awarded a penalty after Rodger was brought down inside the area. Marshall took responsibility from the spot and calmly placed the ball beyond Brown to give the visitors the lead.
The goal lifted Airdrie and they began to exert increasing pressure on the Clydebank defence. Brown produced a number of saves to keep the score down, but five minutes before the interval the visitors doubled their advantage. Black's cross found Marshall, who headed home his second goal of the afternoon.
Clydebank emerged a different side after the restart. Their passing improved markedly and they began to carry a far greater threat in attack than they had managed during the first half.
One of the home side's best opportunities came from a McLeish corner. Horn met the cross with a header that appeared destined for the net, only for an Airdrie defender to clear the ball from the goal-line.
The pressure eventually brought a reward after 65 minutes. Horn was again involved, this time applying the finishing touch from close range to reduce the deficit and set up an exciting final quarter of the match.
With renewed belief, Clydebank pushed forward in search of an equaliser. The visitors were forced onto the defensive for long periods as the Bankies pressed for a second goal, but despite their efforts the breakthrough would not come.
The closing stages were overshadowed by an incident which reduced both teams to ten men. Three minutes from time Airdrie centre-half Black was ordered off by referee James R. Grant following a foul on Rankin. The Clydebank half-back sustained a leg injury in the challenge and had to leave the field, leaving both sides to finish the match a man short.
Despite the defeat, Clydebank could take encouragement from their second-half display. Having looked well below their best before the interval, they responded positively and were unfortunate not to earn a share of the points after a sustained spell of pressure.
Match report written by Stuart McBay
