Match Report
When Clydebank were invited to take part in this competition, few could have imagined that with one game remaining they would be undefeated, sit top of the table and be one home victory against county neighbours Dumbarton away from not only qualifying as one of the six seeded teams, but as league winners. Yet after a comfortable win away against League One side East Fife, that is exactly the position that we find ourselves in.
Gordon Moffat has used the games to rotate his squad, partly from necessity due to the demanding fixture list the club has faced. Teams rarely survive from a Saturday to a Tuesday and are then reshaped again when the weekend comes. There were five changes from the side which started in the thrilling victory over St Mirren’s U21s in midweek, and the travelling support who packed into New Bayview were faced with a viewing rarity, seeing a Clydebank side in a competitive match without either Low or Cairns. Such is the standard at the club these days that the duo who are normally the heart of the team were not missed.
By contrast, East Fife, mindful of Clydebank’s growing reputation, fielded the same 10 outfield players who started their last league game against Montrose.
Clydebank were on the front foot from the start, with Dolan sent free on the right, but his shot sailed over the bar. The opener came just minutes later as Rossiter found Callaghan on the right and he centred to McLaughlin, who smashed the ball into the net from the middle of the penalty box.
East Fife worked to get back into the game but did not have a shot on target in the first half, despite creating a few decent opportunities. Austin headed over, while Bah had a shot deflected wide for a corner. A scramble in the Clydebank penalty area saw shots blocked before the game was halted for a head knock to McLaughlin.
At the other end, Docherty shot wide and a surging Callaghan run was brought to an end by a foul just outside the area. Josh Jack took the resulting free-kick, but it went narrowly wide.
Then, midway through the half, a long clearance by keeper Leishman was well controlled by McLaughlin, who fed Rossiter inside the box. His tricky footwork was too much for the home defence and he was brought down for a penalty. The Bankies’ penalty record so far this season is not great and another was missed by McLaughlin. To be fair, Rollo in goal for the Fifers made a decent save, however Clydebank’s top scorer pounced on the rebound to fire home his 17th goal of the season and put the away team two up.
Before the break there were another couple of half-chances. A Jack corner found McGowan unmarked just beyond the back post, but his shot was off target. A deep cross by Rossiter almost deceived the home defence and had to be put past the post for a corner. Callaghan was put through by McHugh, but the winger was muscled off the ball by the home defence, and Rossiter had a shot from the edge of the box touched round the post for a corner. At the other end, a couple of weak efforts by Ross went harmlessly past.
McGowan was replaced by Grant at the interval, meaning Forrester, who was enjoying a good game at right-back, moved into the middle of the defence to partner Niven. Clydebank had been controlled and disciplined in the first half, working very hard off the ball to deny space and severely limit chances.
In the second half they stepped it up a gear, were flamboyant in possession and really should have added at least a couple to their goal tally. Rossiter was involved in almost everything and Callaghan tormented Bah until the East Fife full-back was booked and then substituted. Crosses delivered were not capitalised on, though, and the goals the play merited did not come.
East Fife’s first shot on target did not arrive until almost the hour mark, when an Austin free-kick was easily dealt with by Leishman. A lovely move involving Callaghan and Rossiter saw the latter deliver a cross which was just claimed by Rollo before McLaughlin could head home for his hat-trick. Great play by Callaghan saw him cut back to Rossiter, whose shot produced a fingertip save from the home keeper.
McLaughlin really should have scored his third when Clydebank found themselves with two players and only the keeper to beat, but the normally prolific Clydebank forward failed to get the ball past Rollo.
As often happens, the Clydebank substitutions had a positive impact, with Samson, returning from injury, and Leslie linking up well. Twice Samson cut back to the winger, who could not get a clean shot away, resulting in corners. Despite all the efforts in a totally dominant second half, the Bankies could not add to their two goals from the first 45, but left the pitch as comfortable winners.
The noisy travelling support enjoyed their return to Methil as the team showed yet again why they deserve to be playing sides at this level every week.
Every Clydebank player contributed, and Dolan and Callaghan probably had their best games so far for the team. Neil McLaughlin twice added to his goal tally, but also impressed with his hold-up play and ability to bring others into the game. Niven carried on from where he left off on Tuesday but had much less to do.
Rossiter, however, has to be considered the man of the match. He had to shoulder more responsibility in midfield without Low or Cairns and covered every part of the pitch, not just box to box but corner to corner, winning balls back on the edge of his own penalty area and creating chances at the other end.
A rare free midweek will give Moffat and the other coaches some time with the players on the training ground before a big test away to Linlithgow in the first round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday. On this showing, it is a test Clydebank are ready for.
Match report written by Frank Hotchkiss
