Match Report
Clydebank's League Cup campaign suffered another setback as a late goal gave Stranraer a narrow 1-0 victory at Stair Park.
Despite the result, there was little to separate the sides in a match that never truly came to life. Both teams lined up in a 4-2-4 formation, but rather than producing open attacking football, the systems largely cancelled each other out and clear-cut chances were few and far between.
The Bankies enjoyed their greatest success down the left flank, where Willie McCallum and Tony Moy combined well throughout the afternoon. Moy's intelligent passing repeatedly released McCallum into space, although the Clydebank attack was unable to make the most of the opportunities they created.
The visitors' best chance of the opening half fell to Moy, whose diving header from a McCallum cross flashed past the post with goalkeeper Davie Thomson beaten. At the other end, Ronnie Wilson was called into action to tip a powerful effort from Stan King over the crossbar.
The pattern changed little after the interval. Clydebank came close when Ernie Collumbine met another dangerous McCallum cross with a downward header that appeared destined for the net, only for David Brown to head the ball clear from the goal-line, injuring himself in the process.
With the match drifting towards a goalless draw, Stranraer finally found the breakthrough eleven minutes from time. After twice testing Wilson with powerful efforts, King continued the attack before slipping a pass into the path of Tommy Halliday, who calmly lifted the ball over the Clydebank goalkeeper to score the only goal of the afternoon.
Donald McDonald was forced off through injury shortly afterwards, Alex Stewart coming on for the closing stages under the new substitute rule.
Clydebank pressed for an equaliser but were unable to create another clear opportunity, leaving them to reflect on a match in which a draw would probably have been the fairest outcome. Although the result went against them, the partnership between Moy and McCallum continued to offer encouragement, while Wilson again produced a dependable display in goal.
Match report written by Stuart McBay
