Clydebank 3
Berwick Rangers 3
League (Lowland League)

Match Report

If you were a neutral at Holm Park you would have been thoroughly entertained with the thrilling three-all draw between the Bankies and Berwick Rangers this afternoon. If you were Gordon Moffat, however, I doubt you’d be quite so impressed.

The Bankies should really have won, particularly given the first-half chances created, but a lack of composure – and maybe a little desperation – allowed Berwick too much space. Their goalkeeper Liam Campbell was inspired, while only Keir Samson’s stoppage-time equaliser prevented an undeserved defeat.

Another large home crowd may be adding a touch of tension to the players, with Clydebank often looking freer away from Holm Park. It also seems to fire up the opposition, who are arriving determined to raise their game.

With Dean Cairns still out, Moffat stuck with the same eleven who beat Tranent. Yet Berwick started brightly: inside the first minute Harry Wright lobbed just wide after Owen Stott’s punch clear. Wright would not be so forgiving again.

The visitors showed real attacking intent throughout, and their front line proved troublesome whenever they broke forward. Mbewe tested Stott after five minutes before combining with McCrystal to set up Somers, who shot wide. Clydebank still saw more of the ball but too often wasted it with overhit passes in the rain or poor deliveries into the box.

When the quality did arrive, the opening goal was exquisite. On 27 minutes Adam Hodge’s deft flick released Nicky Little, whose first-time cross was met by a diving header from Samson. It was a fine move, but Berwick struck back quickly.

Clydebank were too easily pulled apart down the right, and Wright left Chris McGowan floundering before drilling home the equaliser. Stung, the Bankies surged forward and created a string of chances.

First McHugh forced a save, then from a corner Little was denied twice in quick succession – his first shot blocked on the line, the rebound smacking off the post. Aaron Black’s header brought another fine stop, and Campbell somehow tipped another effort onto the bar before thwarting McLaughlin from point-blank range.

It was astonishing that Clydebank hadn’t retaken the lead, and inevitably Berwick punished them. Again the defence stood off, and Wright was allowed to prod a low shot into the corner to make it 2-1 at the break.

The Bankies flew out of the traps in the second half. Samson miscued from a Black cross, but two minutes in Neil McLaughlin equalised with a superb outside-of-the-foot strike that whistled into the bottom corner.

The Bankies would go on to dominate the match from here on in, almost pinning the visitors into their own half for much of the time. We had plenty of time to look for the winner, but we became increasingly restless as we couldn’t find the killer pass. It was almost as if we were trying too hard and a bit of composure and calmness was needed. This led to some nervous moments whenever Berwick broke forward, as we were too slack in our shape, and maybe this is where Dean Cairns was missed.

The Bankies best chance was from a Keir Samson header which once again was stopped by a fantastic save from Campbell, but we also had an almighty let off when to be honest I couldn’t actually see what happened due to the amount of bodies falling about in the Bankies six yard box. When Stott stood up with the ball to his chest there was a massive sense of relief in the stadium.

However, Berwick would take a shock lead with four minutes remaining. Chasing a winner, the Bankies were undone with a long ball over the top from Sneddon. It was a tad ironic as that was Clydebank’s go to tactic throughout the game. With Wright outpacing Niven, it was left to Stott to save the day but the keeper inexplicably changed his mind after racing from his goal line. Left in no mans land Wright completed his hat-trick by simply lifting the ball over the stranded keeper’s head.

The Bankies crowd were not willing to accept defeat and they roared the players on to try and rescue a point, and they were rewarded in the third minute of stoppage time. Matt Niven threw himself at a Lee Gallacher cross and it was enough to put off Campbell who for the first time let the ball go from his grasp. Keir Samson was on the spot to drag the ball away from the keeper and flick it into the net amidst jubilant scenes on the terraces.

Moffat will take positives, but also concerns. Clydebank invited too open a contest against opponents with the tools to punish us. Still, salvaging a draw showed character, and the sponsors’ choice of McLaughlin as man of the match was well merited – he was the Bankies’ best performer throughout.

The draw means Clydebank cannot hit top spot when they play their game in hand on Tuesday, but a win over third-placed Bo’ness United would close the gap to leaders Linlithgow Rose to a single point. It promises to be one of the sternest tests of the season.

Match report written by Stuart McBay