Clydebank 1
Celtic Res 7
Friendly

Match Report

Clydebank’s ambitious start to life as a new club continued with a high-profile Friday night friendly against Celtic’s Reserve side in front of a bumper crowd of 5,000 at New Kilbowie. Though thoroughly outclassed on the night, the Bankies gave a spirited account of themselves and at times had the visiting defence under pressure.

Celtic's "wee team" turned on the style, with their technical superiority and attacking flair eventually proving too much for a game Clydebank side. The match was delayed by ten minutes to allow the large crowd to enter, and those in attendance were treated to an entertaining if one-sided contest.

The Bankies actually started brightly and could have taken an early lead. In the 12th minute, O'Brien beat his man on the left and sent in a clever lobbed cross. Connelly, unmarked under the bar, somehow headed over when it seemed easier to score. Just five minutes later, the new Clydebank signing from Maryhill Harp was presented with another chance, meeting a McLeish cross with his head, but again narrowly missed.

That early escape stirred Celtic into action, and they soon took control. On 20 minutes, Taylor beat Holloran and squared the ball for Jimmy Johnstone to nod past Brown. Brazilian forward Inacio doubled the lead ten minutes later, reacting quickest after a stinging shot from Taylor was parried by the Clydebank keeper.

A minute later, Johnstone was brought down in the box and converted the penalty himself to make it 3–0. The fourth came not long after, Johnstone again the architect as he threaded a pass through to Inacio, who finished neatly to grab his second of the evening.

Despite being under constant pressure, Clydebank continued to press forward when they could, with McLeish and Connelly combining well at times. However, Celtic’s defence held firm, and the Bankies were unable to find a breakthrough before the break.

At half-time, Celtic boss Jock Stein made three changes to “strengthen” his side further—bringing on Jimmy Quinn, Halpin and Craig among others. The second half began just as the first had ended, with Celtic in full flow. Three minutes after the restart, Johnstone raced through on an Inacio pass, rounded Brown, and laid it off for young Quinn to tap into an empty net.

Clydebank tried to rally, with Horn forcing a fine save from Kennedy to win a corner, but the visitors were not finished. Henry Quinn made it 6–0 on 70 minutes with a lovely strike from a Taylor pass, and Inacio completed his hat-trick a minute later, heading home from a Taylor corner to cap a fine personal performance.

The Bankies did at least have the final word, albeit in slightly comic fashion. In the 78th minute, Connelly let fly with a fierce effort, and in the scramble to clear, Celtic full-back Halpin turned the ball into his own net to give Clydebank a late consolation.

Although the scoreline was emphatic, this was a valuable experience for Clydebank against high-calibre opposition, and the large crowd certainly got their money’s worth. There were bright spells in the home side’s play, particularly in the early stages, and new signing Tommy Connelly showed flashes of promise—even if luck wasn't quite on his side in front of goal.

Match report written by Stuart McBay