East Fife 3
Clydebank 1
League (Division 2)

Match Report

It was all happening at Bayview on Wednesday night, when the "Methil midgets," surely the smallest ever front line ever to appear in black and gold, proved too strong for league newcomers, Clydebank.

Fans saw three of the best goals scored at Bayview for a good few seasons. And they also saw stars - literally - for during the interval there was a floodlighting fault, and while play was held up for six minutes at the start of the second half, the fans had to watch stars in the sky, and not on the field.

When the light did come back on again, though, they were able to see two of the best young prospects of the division showing their skills-Fife winger Bertie Miller and visiting link-man "Denis" Jenkins.

But that wasn't the end of the entertainment. The woodwork twice came to the rescue, once for each side, Harry Smith kicked two certs off the line, Jim Walker missed a penalty, and to crown it all half way through the second half, a dog decided to come on and show everybody how the game was played.

This win put the Fifers in the happy position of having full points from their two league games. but still the injury problems are mounting up for Manager Bonthrone. Jackie Thoms sustained a nasty eye cut when laying on the third goal for Rutherford and he had to leave the field. to be replaced by Henry McLeish.

The three goals the Methil men scored were each completely different in composition, but all were gems.

The first came in ten minutes. through Johnny Lawlor. He was facing his own goal when a Thoms cross floated across goal. but managed to back-heel the ball high into the net from sixteen yards' range.

Twenty minutes later. a beautiful team move gave them the second goal. Eric Brodie broke up a promising Clydebank attack and pushed the ball to Lawlor. He moved into Guild, and then it went out to Kinsella. His cross was headed on by Walker to Thoms and the stocky inside-forward made no mistake' from ten yards.

Rutherford's speed gained him the third goal. A fine pass by Thoms enabled the centre to outrun two defenders and slip the ball past the 'keeper.

All this time the league "babes" had been plugging away, but their lack of penetration near goal cost them dear and it came as rather a surprise when Moy scored their only goal four minutes from time.

Their 4-2-4 formation never really contained the nippy Fife attackers, and the winning margin in no way flattered East Fife.

The home defence was as solid as ever but they suffered at wing-half, where Jim Walker had a real off-night. Luckily, Clydebank's four forwards were never able to exert much pressure on the weakened right flank.

Up front Miller was the star. Fast and tricky, he threatened danger every time he got on the move. and there had been some pretty close penalty decisions before McDonald pulled him down to concede the penalty, which Jim Walker blazed wide. Sharing the spotlight with him was Eddie Jenkins, the Clydebank link-man, who has been compared with Denis Law, both in looks and in his style of play. His dash and flair for the open space were certainly reminiscent of the Law-man and he is one to look out for in the future. He was the Clydebank star, but of the others, only Columbine and Moy deserve passmarks.

The Fifers' threats usually stemmed from the wings, where Kinsella was also having a good game, but all three inside forwards were a frustrating mixture of brilliance and mediocrity. As well as scoring one and hitting the bar. Johnny Lawlor laid on some delightful passes but for long periods of the game faded completely and this also applied to Rutherford Jackie Thoms took his goal well but missed a few good chances.

The start of the game was delayed for 14 few minutes to allow the Clydebank 'keeper to change the colour of his jersey. which clashed with the East Fife colours. When the game did get under way. East Fife went straight on to the attack and Thoms might have scored in four minutes when he was left in front of goal after a neat slip by Rutherford. But Wilson blocked his shot.

Two minutes later came a let- off for the Fifers. McCallum tried a dipping shot from just outside the box. and it hit the bar, with McGann beaten. In ten minutes the Fifers, after a prolonged attack, scored their first. and after a Rutherford "goal" had been disallowed for offside, they went further ahead through Thoms in thirty minutes.

Thoms should have added another five minutes before half- time. but he was caught on the wrong foot, and the chance was lost.

After the half-time black-out the Fifers came out and started with a burst which came very near to giving them two goals in the first ten minutes.

Only thirty seconds after the start, Johnny Lawlor hit the bar with a twenty-yarder and after ten minutes came the penalty miss.

At this stage the home side eased off slightly. and almost paid the price, when Harry Smith first cleared a ball off the line, and then did likewise with the rebound.

But the safety goal was scored by Rutherford after 77 minutes and with the Fifers cruising Moy netted after 86 minutes with a close range shot.

Match report written by Unknown (Leven Mail)