Match Report
After an absence of 25 years, the name of Clydebank FC returned to the Challenge Cup tonight and marked the occasion in style with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Hibernian B at Holm Park.
The footballing landscape has changed a lot in the last quarter of a century, which seems long when you say it that way, as former Junior sides now mingle with established league clubs and the development teams of Premiership outfits, all competing in one big melting pot that is the modern-day Challenge Cup. Or KDM Evolution Trophy, as the sponsors would prefer it was called.
For Clydebank to be invited as one of the guest clubs displays how far we have come in recent years, and nobody could argue with the value that the Bankies have to offer. Even considering the novelty factor, Clydebank’s attendance against a B team with no support was the second highest of the round one matches. Many clubs in Leagues One and Two struggle to match our average attendances, and we would be a welcome addition to the SPFL if we can realise our ambitions.
However, all of that must be done on the pitch, and a good showing in this competition would underline our intentions that we can compete at this level.
We negotiated the first hurdle with little difficulty against the Hibs B team. There is always an unhealthy dose of the unknown when you come face to face with the youngsters from the Premiership sides. They might be boys in a lot of ways, but they are full-time players with access to some of the best coaching in the country.
The Bankies have seen both sides of the coin against the development sides, having recently suffered a chastening 6-1 defeat against Celtic, but also enjoyed huge successes such as the 8-0 defeat handed out to Hearts at the end of last season.
Hibs, as it turned out, were decent in the first half but suffered a bit of a collapse once they lost the first goal. The opening forty-five minutes felt more like a pre-season friendly rather than a competitive match, as there were precious few opportunities from either side.
Rossiter missed a glaring chance after just four minutes when a dreadful defensive pass left him with just the keeper to beat, but the goalkeeper was quickly off his line to block and smother the ball.
The Bankies enjoyed an extended period of possession after quarter of an hour, which resulted in McGowan looping a cross into the box. Dolan did well to head towards goal, but Mallon grasped the ball from the air without too much difficulty.
A neat, guided volley followed from McLaughlin, but until the same player had an angled shot on the verge of half-time, there was precious little in the way of goalmouth action. Hibs, as you would expect, moved the ball about very well in possession, but they struggled to find any kind of penetration, and Clydebank were quick to pounce on any slack passes. However, we just lacked that little bit of guile to unlock the energetic Hibees.
Clydebank began the second half with just a little more pressing and movement with the ball. McLaughlin shot wildly off target and Nicky Little was overly ambitious with a long-range effort, but there was definitely a groundswell before the Bankies made the breakthrough after 56 minutes. It came from a corner kick as Matt Niven stooped low to head home Blair Rossiter’s cross.
The Hibs boys looked to be running out of steam, and Clydebank’s triple substitution added the extra energy just when it was needed. The Bankies were turning the ball over more often as Hibs made more and more mistakes, and they were beginning to take advantage of the spaces that were opening up.
Nicky Low hit the post after being released by McLaughlin, and the same player wasted another opportunity when he had better options ahead of him.
The goal that really ended the tie as a contest was a cracker and was all due to the tenacious work by Blair Rossiter on the wing. He beat his man, kept the ball in play and delivered a fantastic cross into the box, which Josh Jack controlled before crashing the ball into the top corner.
Rossiter was the Bankies’ standout player on the pitch, and he added a goal of his own to go with his two assists from outside the box with five minutes to go. A weary Hibs side still had time to make one final mistake in stoppage time when an ill-judged pass inside their own box was cut out by Josh Jack, and he thundered the ball past Mallon to end the match with a resounding scoreline.
After a stale first half, the Bankies found the rhythm that was on show against Troon at the weekend. Rossiter has been busy in his previous games, but this was the first time that we saw the end product, and the two goals from Josh Jack will hopefully give him the confidence to push on after a quiet start to his Bankies career.
We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the KDM Evolution Trophy league phase. The next match in this tournament is in two weeks’ time up at Kelty Hearts, where we can compare ourselves to the League Two side who were just relegated last season.
On Saturday, we travel to Stoneyburn in the South Challenge Cup before a tricky encounter awaits us at Caley Braves this time next week. Our last experience at Alliance Park was not great, and we don’t want a repeat of that 4-1 defeat.
Match report written by Stuart McBay
