Clydebank 1
Linlithgow Rose 1
League (Lowland League)

Match Report

For the second time this season, Clydebank and Linlithgow Rose could not be separated after 90 minutes, playing out another one-all draw at Holm Park. The Bankies will feel frustrated at not taking all three points, having created the better chances and needing only a slice of luck to kill the game. Instead, it took an unfortunate penalty and a red card for the visitors to snatch what had looked like an unlikely equaliser.

The injury situation has been problematic for weeks, and this run of games may well be remembered as the point where it began to take its toll. We’ve taken just one point from three matches against our closest challengers, when it really should have been four or six. The depth we enjoyed earlier in the campaign has evaporated, and it’s hard not to think outcomes might have been different had we still had that wealth of options.

We’ve just about managed to field a strong starting eleven, but the lack of reinforcements from the bench has been costly. Hopefully, with Thomas Collins making an encouraging return, the situation begins to ease soon.

Another four-figure attendance crammed into Holm Park for the Lowland League’s game of the day, but the first half never lived up to the occasion, with barely a meaningful effort at either end.

Clydebank had a couple of long-range strikes from Oisin McHugh and Nicky Low that didn’t trouble Binnie, while Rae’s tame effort at the other end was easily gathered by Stott.

Hickey-Fugaccia had some promising moments. His pace is obvious, but we need to get him on the ball more often. His cross after 19 minutes caused panic in the Linlithgow box, forcing a spectacular clearance before Jimmy Grant headed the loose ball onto the roof of the net.

Linlithgow moved the ball better than the Bankies as the half wore on, but struggled to find a way through a solid home defence. Only a low ball across goal from Paul Kennedy caused any real discomfort, and even then there were no takers.

As I’ve said before, Gordon Moffat’s knack for identifying problems and fixing them at half-time is impressive, and again the Bankies emerged a different side after the restart.

This was the spell where we really should have put Linlithgow away. A Grant cross from the right found Lee Gallacher, whose superb back-heel laid the ball on for Nicky Little. From close range he’ll be annoyed not to have scored, firing too close to the keeper. The power of the shot almost carried it over the line, but Binnie recovered to claw it away.

Moments later, a long McLaughlin throw was flicked on to Gallacher at the back post. Despite running away from goal, he managed a clever reverse shot that beat the keeper but not the defender on the line.

The pressure finally told after 52 minutes. A fantastic first-time pass from Gallacher sent Nicky Low racing down the left, and his cut-back found Neil McLaughlin on the edge of the box. The in-form forward drilled the ball beyond Binnie to make it eight league games in a row on the scoresheet.

Linlithgow regained some composure thereafter, but carried almost no threat thanks to the resilience of the Bankies back line. With greater attacking depth on the bench you feel we might have killed the game. We’ve yet to see what young Lancelot Pollard can offer, but it’s a huge ask for an 18-year-old. Collins came on for the final twenty minutes, and hopefully his injury troubles are now behind him.

Gallacher was unlucky again shortly before the pivotal moment, his neat back-heel stopped on the line. Not finding that second goal would prove costly.

A corner was cleared to Alan Sneddon, whose volley struck Jimmy Grant’s arm inside the six-yard box. The referee judged it to be denying a clear goalscoring opportunity and produced a red card. Footage may show the decision was correct, but in real time it felt harsh.

Blair Henderson converted the penalty, meaning Linlithgow have now twice this season benefited from a Clydebank red card. From being in full control, suddenly we were hanging on. To their credit, the Bankies handled the setback well, and Collins twice came close to restoring the lead.

There was always a danger Linlithgow would exploit the extra space, but the introduction of Hodge and Preston ensured they remained largely toothless.

The Bankies’ lead at the top is now down to four points as both Bonnyrigg and Tranent won. Bonnyrigg’s seven-game winning run feels ominous, and Tranent aren’t far behind with seven wins from eight. However, the next round of fixtures gives us an opportunity: Bonnyrigg travel to Linlithgow and Tranent visit Broxburn. We face a tough trip to Caley Braves, but we must go there looking to win and capitalise if results elsewhere fall our way.

Next week brings a huge Scottish Cup tie away to Stranraer. Our injury issues and Stranraer’s strong recent form (one defeat in eight) make this a difficult assignment against the League Two side. We were always likely to be underdogs, but still with an outside chance. The squad is already stretched and a clean bill of health would have been ideal, but that’s not the reality. Dean Cairns was nursing his thigh late on today, and we can’t afford any further setbacks.

What is certain is that the travelling Bankies support will be out in force, and we’ll be hoping they can help lift the team to a big performance and carry us into the fourth round for the second year running.

Match report written by Stuart McBay