Gala Fairydean Rvrs 0
Clydebank 3
League (Lowland League)

Match Report

Let’s start with some statistics, shall we? Today’s 3–0 win at Netherdale against Gala Fairydean Rovers completed a run of 20 away games unbeaten in league football stretching back to May 2024.

The streak spans the whole of last year’s championship-winning season and has continued into our debut term in the Lowland League. In that time, we have recorded seventeen wins and just three draws, scoring 55 goals and conceding only ten. Only Largs have prevented us from scoring in this run, but that goalless draw came in a game where the Bankies played over 75 minutes with ten men following Matt Niven’s red card. The defence have earned ten clean sheets, and so far this season we have conceded just a single goal on our travels.

It is a remarkable achievement and one that the players and management should rightly be proud of. Let’s just hope I haven’t put the hex on them as we face two daunting away games at Bo’ness United and Bonnyrigg Rose in the next seven days.

Back to the matter in hand, and it was another fine performance in the late autumn sunshine at Netherdale that delivered our latest away victory. Gala provided feisty opposition once more, and I’m getting the strangest feeling of déjà vu in every game we play in the Lowland League: well organised, not short on attacking flair, but ultimately coming up short in the final analysis.

Gala were highly motivated and weren’t short on energy — though you just knew it wouldn’t last. The Bankies rearguard had to withstand and repel this eagerness in the early stages, with Matt Niven imperious in the heart of the defence.

The first shots at goal came at the other end, both from Nicky Little, but each cleared the crossbar. The Bankies were posing a lot of problems down the left wing as Neil McLaughlin continued his fine recent form, but it was down the right that the ball was put into the Rovers net.

Jimmy Grant made a fine overlapping run down the right wing and his cross was fired home by Keir Samson, only for the stand-side linesman to flag for offside against Grant. It must have been an incredibly tight decision. The officials continued to enrage the players and support as Cairns and Grant were both booked for dissent, as was Bankies boss Gordon Moffat for the same offence.

The home side kept the tempo high but were increasingly relying on breakaways, and this led to their best chance of the half when a mishit shot from the left was deflected goalward, bringing out a great instinctive save from Stott.

However, Clydebank were looking more and more likely to open the scoring, and after Murray parried away a Nicky Little effort, it was Neil McLaughlin who finally put the visitors ahead.

After continued pressure, a Nicky Low cross from the left wing was met by the forward, who bulleted a header past the keeper — netting for the fourth game in a row and showing an array of different finishes in the process. He is improving week on week and is surely a first pick on Gordon Moffat’s teamsheet.

We almost reached the interval without further incident, but Gala had an incredible shout for a penalty when it appeared that Jimmy Grant felled Jamie Semple in the box. I was positioned at the far end of the ground, and if it was a dive, it was one of the best I’ve ever seen, as the referee booked the forward for simulation — much to the relief of the travelling support.

I have to say that I was impressed with Gala’s fitness levels as they did not let up their intensity throughout the game, but the Bankies simply got better at dealing with it. Most of their threat in the second half came down the right wing, but Chris McGowan was outstanding as he fought off every raid from the home side.

This solidity in defence gave the forwards the platform to produce the goals that would win the game for the Bankies. Keir Samson had a fantastic battle with Arnault Bembo, which I would declare honours even by the end. Samson was always a threat but never quite got the better of the big defender. He really had to earn the glimpses of goal he had, but unfortunately, he wasn’t successful on the day.

It was left to others to score the vital goals. The Bankies’ second of the day came on 58 minutes from Nicky Low. A Jimmy Grant cross from the right was controlled by Neil McLaughlin, but under pressure the ball slipped away from him, running into the path of Low. The Bankies playmaker never scores an easy goal, and this was no exception, as he showed great vision to cutely chip the ball into the far corner with keeper Murray a mere spectator.

The Bankies found themselves in several promising positions as the substitutions of Black and Collins added fresh impetus to the attack, but we didn’t quite make the most of them until the 83rd minute. Black supplied the corner from the right and Nicky Low drove the ball into the six-yard box, where Collins was on hand to control and crash the ball into the net to seal the three points. Collins’ return from injury is very welcome as the Bankies contend with knocks and niggles throughout the squad.

The determination of this squad was rammed home in the closing stages as Gala continued to seek a consolation, but a clean sheet for the defence is every bit as important as the goals at the other end. Owen Stott showed his worth again in stoppage time when he made a great save from a driven shot at the edge of the box, then smothered the ball at the second attempt to prevent any chance of conceding.

Another great day for the club and the travelling supporters who made the long journey to Galashiels. The players didn’t disappoint as we started this run of three difficult consecutive away games in great fashion.

This week, the Bankies Archive Man of the Match goes to Matt Niven, who just seemed to be in the right place at the right time throughout the game. Chris McGowan had a great second half, snuffing out any threat that arose, and it’s hard to discount Nicky Low with his goal and two assists — or Neil McLaughlin, who continues his excellent run of form, though Gala handled him better in the second period.

So, we have Bo’ness United on Tuesday at Newtown Park and then Bonnyrigg Rose on Saturday. We have already beaten Bo’ness at Holm Park this season in what was a tough encounter, and Bonnyrigg will be a real test as they look to rediscover their form after being relegated from League Two last season.

Match report written by Stuart McBay