Jeanfield Swifts 0
Clydebank 4
Scottish Cup (1st Round)

Match Report

Clydebank’s Scottish Cup adventure got off to the best possible start as Jeanfield Swifts were swept aside in convincing fashion at the Riverside Stadium this afternoon. The four-goal margin of victory did not flatter the Bankies, and the Swifts – currently top of the East of Scotland Premier League – will be disappointed they failed to mount a stronger challenge.

Both the Jeanfield chairman and manager admitted in their programme notes that the only tie worse than Clydebank at home would have been Clydebank away, which spoke volumes about their expectations. Many Bankies fans had viewed this as a potential banana skin, so to win so emphatically was particularly satisfying.

Injuries continue to hamper Clydebank, with Syme, McHugh, Mulcahy and Leishman all sidelined. However, Thomas Collins returned from a successful loan spell at Beith Juniors following Stuart McCann’s transfer to Pollok last week.

As has become customary, the Bankies didn’t look to blow their opponents away in the opening stages but instead sought to dictate play and gradually wear them down. Jeanfield’s strategy, by contrast, was to sit deep and try to profit on the break.

It was in those early exchanges, when the Swifts were most energetic, that they posed their greatest threat. A dangerous ball fizzed across the face of goal in the second minute without a taker, and shortly after Dean Cairns was alert to snuff out another promising attack.

For the most part, though, Clydebank controlled possession and patiently probed for an opening. Their first real sight of goal came after ten minutes when a Grant cross found Samson, but his header lacked power. Neil McLaughlin went close soon after, flashing a 25-yard effort narrowly past the post following good build-up from Little and Grant. Moments later, Grant’s cross broke kindly for him again, but his stabbed shot was beaten away by Swinton, and in the ensuing scramble Cairns volleyed over.

The breakthrough finally came on 38 minutes – ironically just after Jeanfield had passed up their best chance. From a rare break down the left, the ball was cut back to Archie Campbell, whose first-time strike was superbly saved. Straight from the restart, a long ball from Cairns was controlled by McLaughlin at the edge of the box. His first effort rattled the crossbar, but when the ball was recycled, Chris McGowan found him in a similar position and this time he swivelled and lashed a shot into the top corner.

The key question at half-time was what Jeanfield could do to get back into the game. The answer came within three minutes of the restart: very little. Cairns was fouled on the edge of the box and, with several candidates standing over the free-kick, it was Nicky Low who stepped up. His curling effort into the top corner was simply unstoppable, leaving Swinton rooted.

With so much time remaining, the contest was effectively over. Jeanfield made a double substitution to spark some life into their attack, and Binnie went close with a near-post header, but the Bankies were otherwise in full command. Cairns and Low dictated the tempo, McLaughlin enjoyed his best performance in a Clydebank shirt, and Samson’s tireless running constantly unsettled the Swifts’ defence.

It was really just a matter of how many goals the Bankies could add to their tally, and we had to settle for just two more. The third goal of the afternoon was an odd affair. A corner kick straight from the training ground, and one we tend to save for moments when are comfortably ahead in games, found Dean Cairns at the edge of the box.

He was closed down by a defender as he shot, and the ball looped up into the air. To be honest the goalkeeper was poor as the ball dropped out of the sky and under the crossbar. He allowed Keir Samson to block him off and the striker dragged the ball over the line from less than a foot from goal.

It was Samson who added the fourth ten minutes later to net his ninth goal of the season. This time there was some fantastic intricate close quarters passing featuring a neat one two with Nicky Little before he shot confidently into the net. A great goal from a Bankies perspective, but defensively not so much.

This was as complete a performance as Clydebank have produced all season, and once again it came away from home. Jeanfield looked on paper like awkward opposition, but the Bankies were streets ahead on the day.

As for man of the match, it is impossible to single out one player. The joint Bankies Archive award goes to Nicky Low, Dean Cairns and Neil McLaughlin. Jimmy Grant impressed on his return from injury, while Samson remains like the T-1000 from Terminator 2 – utterly relentless.

The focus now shifts back to league duty, with Albion Rovers visiting Holm Park next weekend before a testing run of three away games in eight days against Gala, Bo’ness and Bonnyrigg Rose.

Match report written by Stuart McBay