Clydebank 7
Dalkeith Thistle 0
Scottish Cup (1st Round)

Match Report

It was a historic day for everyone connected with Clydebank FC as they played their first Scottish Cup tie in almost 20 years and you have to go way back to 1996 when the town last hosted a match in the competition.

Dalkeith Thistle were the Bankies opponents and the bookies prediction had the visitors on extremely long odds and they were not wrong as Clydebank thumped the Midlothian side by seven goals to nil. It was a great day to be a Bankies supporter. A record Scottish Cup score in front of over 800 spectators, and a cracking sunny day as a bonus.

It was all about patience in the early part of the game. The game plan was to pass, pass, pass. There were a few stray ones in the opening twenty minutes, and while Dalkeith were full of energy you never felt totally comfortable.

Slowly but surely the gaps began to appear and when McKinlay sprung the offside trap after 28 minutes and dinked the ball over Dowie, you just knew it was curtains for the away side.

The Bankies went on to play some fantastic football, and some of the goals were right out of the top drawer as their opponents began to chase shadows and wilt. The second and third goals were two such examples as the Bankies passing ripped right through the Dalkeith defence, for Slattery and Holmes respectively to slam the ball home. The latter also treated the supporters to an acrobatic cartwheel and somersault to celebrate.

The second half was a matter of how many could the Bankies add to their score. McKinlay scored his second after 50 minutes with an accurate side footed effort finishing off another passing move. Kevin Green nodded in from a corner kick at close range to score his first goal for the club just six minutes later.

Ross McPherson came off the bench to thrash a daisycutter low into the bottom corner from 20 yards out, and Holmes wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time with a fine header from a McClair cross.

The result could have been worse for Dalkeith as the Bankies missed a whole host of chances, but it would have been harsh on the visitors who fought hard, but were just outclassed.

Today was about the occasion as much as the game on the park. It was great to have such a well attended match and the Bankies delivering the result on the field. We’ve seen it go the wrong way in the past such is the highs and lows of supporting a club like Clydebank FC. We all wait with baited breath to see who we get in the next round!

Next week, it’s back to reality as we travel to Rutherglen to play Glencairn. This could be a tricky encounter, but we have a good record there. The Bankies dropped to third in the table because of our cup related absence, so the pressure is on to keep winning and stay in touch at the top.

Match report written by Stuart McBay