Civil Service Str 0
Clydebank 5
League (Lowland League)

Match Report

It took the Bankies five games to climb to the top of the table last season—a position we never once relinquished. This year, it’s taken just three matches to reach the summit in our Lowland League debut, following a crushing, in the end, victory over Civil Service Strollers at Christie Gillies Park. The result also extended our unbeaten away league run to an impressive 17 matches, stretching back to Pollok in May 2024. Remarkably, that’s still one short of Gordon Moffat’s record streak from 2021–22.

All three of our Lowland League wins so far have followed a similar pattern: steady first half, stronger second. The only thing missing was the goals, and we got that today. However, it did not feel like a 5-0 match as we toiled from an attacking point of view until the 70th minute. That changed when Nicky Low caught the home side napping with a quick free-kick down the left to Nicky Little, whose driven cross was bundled over the line by Keir Samson—via some part of his anatomy. Keeper Adam Meek claimed handball and was booked for his protests.

Up until then there had been a dearth of goalmouth action, and Clydebank had to rely on a penalty kick to take a first half lead. Prior to the penalty being awarded in the 29th minute, Clydebank had not really troubled the Strollers keeper. Gallacher had shot well over from distance, and Samson tried his luck from a tight angle which was easy for Meek to gather. The closest to a goal was a ridiculous 50 yard attempt by Nicky Little from a free kick, which in fairness only missed the target by a foot as the ball dipped and skimmed the top of the net.

The penalty came from a through ball by Little to Keir Samson. As the keeper advanced from his goal, he appeared to take out Samson before gathering the ball. It looked soft from my vantage point, but others closer to the incident were adamant in the veracity of the penalty claim. Nicky Little must hate all these videos of penalty kicks on Youtube, but he is doing a great job of mixing them up as he struck this one into the opposite corner from his last one.

Strollers’ only real moment of danger came shortly after, when Yeats curled a lovely left-foot effort off the crossbar following some neat interplay on the edge of the box. Otherwise, the Bankies defence remained solid and untroubled—continuing a fine start to the season, having conceded just once so far (and that a screamer nobody was stopping).

Oisin McHugh was one of the brighter sparks in a quiet first half, chasing balls over the top with determination, though the final product was lacking. After the break, Clydebank looked to up the tempo but continued to misfire in the final third. With the exception of Craig Truesdale, all of our forwards were simply not clicking. Keir Samson was on the wrong end of too many offside decisions though that is a consequence of his playing style. Nicky Little was not having one of his better games, and Lee Gallacher has not been on form at all this season. Even Nicky Low and Dean Cairns were not the dominant figures we are used to seeing.

Given the quality we have on the bench, it was surprising that it took so long for Gordon Moffat to make changes. He eventually took Gallacher off as left back McGinn was being allowed too much of a free run at Jimmy Grant down the flank, and the introduction of Aaron Black with his energy put a stop to that.

Strollers had been growing nominally in confidence and there was a growing sense that the pitch was starting to stretch in the heat of the day. With spaces beginning to appear, it was not long afterwards, that the second goal arrived and the immediate substituting in of McLaughlin and McCann really pushed home our advantage over the deflated home side in the last fifteen minutes.

Black was once again devastating from the bench, and he helped himself to a double. The first was from a quick break and he slammed the ball home after Truesdale laid it on a plate for him. The second and the Bankies fourth was all about Black as he displayed dazzling footwork to beat a defender and slip the ball under the keeper. Stuart McCann added insult to injury by cracking home a stoppage time fifth just inside the box after fellow sub, Neil McLaughlin set him up.

There was no doubt that Clydebank deserved to win this game, but five was probably tough on the Strollers. We’ve yet to see the Bankies play well for a complete game, which might not be a bad thing. Three wins from three without hitting top gear hints at even better to come. It seems strange to be slightly complaining after such a positive start, but the quality of the squad has risen the standards considerably, and with that comes higher expectations also. Nobody should feel assured of a starting position in a squad of such quality.

Next week the Bankies host another of our ex-league rivals in the shape of Cowdenbeath. To end with another streak, we are currently on a run of six straight home wins in row. A seventh would do just fine.

Match report written by Stuart McBay