Clydebank 1
Cumbernauld Colts 3
League (Lowland League)

Match Report

Well, that was a bit of a calamity. Cumbernauld Colts came to Holm Park and gave the Bankies a right good old-fashioned doing, and it is no understatement to say that the 3–1 scoreline actually flattered us.

We could try to use the excuse that we haven’t played in a month, and that we were missing the influential Nicky Low, but without taking anything away from Cumbernauld, we were abysmal.

Not a single player deserves to be exempt from criticism, but the defending in particular was diabolical. Gordon Moffat just sank to his knees as Matt Niven got into a fankle with Owen Stott when there was no real danger. How the ball then found its way into the path of Danny Hatfield was a complete farce, leaving the forward with a tap-in. That was the killer third goal, just minutes after the restart, but to be fair the rot had set in long before then.

This game had much in common with the Caledonian Braves match last month, when we were given a similar going over. An energetic side, playing a high press, completely unsettled us from the very first whistle.

One of the constant complaints about the Clydebank style of play is that we rarely start games on the front foot. How many times have we needed a half-time shot in the arm after passing the ball about too much in front of the opposition, not quickly enough and without sufficient purpose?

Our defence often picks up the slack while we work our way into games. Well, Cumbernauld — like Caley Braves — weren’t going to hang around while we found our rhythm. We had no clue how to link up our play. We were too ponderous on the ball, the movement ahead was statuesque, and it left us resorting to aimless punts into the channel, hoping to get lucky with a second ball.

Cumbernauld had all that covered and were simply better man for man in every area of the pitch. I was highly impressed with Joshua Farquhar, who is on loan at the Colts from St Mirren. He gave the Bankies defence a torrid time.

Within the first five minutes he capitalised on a Niven mistake and drove through the Bankies defence, leaving defenders in his wake. The final shot saw Chris McGowan make a superb diving block to divert the ball over the bar. From the resulting corner, Stott made a wonderful save from Hatfield’s bullet header.

A needless foul committed by Syme on the edge of the box on Danny Hatfield gave the Colts the chance to take the lead. Josh Jack, showing all the traits of his father Alan Jack, smacked a beauty into the top corner.

It was crazy time after that as the Colts doubled their lead minutes later. Comic-cut defending that should never be allowed at this level saw Danny Hatfield net from inside the box.

The Colts had the ball in the net again shortly afterwards as the defence simply stood and watched a free kick delivered into the box being volleyed home. Luckily, the offside flag came to our rescue.

Nicky Little was introduced for the restart in place of the departing Aaron Black. We momentarily looked to have a little bit more life about us, but that was short-lived after Niven’s mistake.

Cumbernauld did not rest on their laurels and had three shots at goal in as many minutes as they looked to widen their advantage. Thankfully, they then retreated into a contented holding pattern and, truth be told, we rarely gave the Colts’ keeper anything to worry about.

Even when we pulled a goal back it came via an own goal, as Aiden McLaughlin deflected David Syme’s header into the net. We had plenty of the ball in the last quarter of the game after that, but we were unable to offer any real threat.

***Edit*** After viewing slow-motion footage of the goal it is clear that it was Nicky Little who diverted the ball into the net.

Nicky Little added a bit of spark when he came on, and you have to wonder if the experiment of playing Lee Gallacher in the number ten position is a project worth pursuing. I would rather see Neil McLaughlin in there. Having him out on the left seems to be a waste of his talents. Otherwise, we have a long-term issue in that position.

Thomas Collins also had some neat touches when he replaced Matt Niven, whose miserable day ended with him being stretchered from the pitch with what looked like a bad head or facial injury. Collins has been plagued by injuries over the past year, and whether those are now behind him remains to be seen.

So, where does that leave us? The league table shows a clear picture and a worrying direction of travel. The Bankies faltered, recovered a little — but not convincingly — and have now faltered again. Bonnyrigg have clawed back fourteen points from us and now lead the table.

Their next three league games see them take on East Stirling, Gretna and Stirling University, so I fully expect their twelve-match winning streak to continue. In the same period, we face Berwick, Tranent and Celtic. Our path is tougher, but we have to at least match Bonnyrigg’s form before they visit Holm Park at the start of March.

This is not over by a long chalk, but the form of the two clubs is diametrically opposed at the moment. Gordon Moffat must find a way to get these players back to playing as we did at the start of the season before we fall out of the title conversation altogether.

Match report written by Stuart McBay