Clydebank 2
Dunfermline 1
Scottish Cup (3rd Round)

Match Report

The record books will say that goals by Given (pen.) and Millar cancelled out one by McNaughton, and gave Bankies a home fourth round Scottish Cup-tie with St. Mirren.

But what statistics cannot possibly tell is just how close Clydebank came to being bundled out of the cup at the first hurdle by a side from whom they had previously taken 10 goals and full points in the league.

In the end, a win was the right result, for Bankies were the better side over 90 minutes; but if ex-Kilbowie man Sandy McNaughton's brilliant 77th minute goal had decided the tie, then they could have had few complaints.

Dunfermline came to do a job; to hold Clydebank and snatch what they could on the break. And they almost did it too. But for a morale-shattering penalty ninety seconds from time, they would have held out.

But when Budgie McGhie's sliced shot struck Doug Considine somewhere around the arm, you could sense the tide had turned. Jim Given's penalty, Clydebank's first of the season, almost burst the net, and the visitors' heads dropped.

Seconds from time, Blair Millar raced on to a Given lob, beating the ageing Nicol for speed, and fired a fine drive past Young. Kilbowie erupted. It was just as well that the 911 fans - yet pitiful total – were able to enjoy the last, thrilling 13 minutes.

Apart from three good goals, they saw Bankies miss three golden chances – from Coyne (twice) and Given - and also the unfortunate Mark Treanor break his nose.

But the previous one and a quarter hours had been sheer tedium. Bankies never really found a rhythm. and Dunfermline defended most of the time, although they did look dangerous on the break.

In Jenkins, Donnelly and McNaughton they had players who might have put them into the hat for the fourth round draw. McNaughton especially seems to enjoy playing against the Kilbowie men.

Since the transfer from Bankies he has made a habit of Scoring against his old team-mates. It can't be long before he's snapped up by a top outfit.

But back to Clydebank. They survived, but only just. Sammy Henderson couldn't have been pleased with his players, some of whom seemed to think they were going to win no matter what. Dunfermline on the other hand looked as if they really wanted to win.

The late excitement continued after the final blast of Mr. Ferguson's whistle. Dunfermline's Hugh Hamill, incensed by the late penalty decision, knocked the ball from the referee's hand and was rightly booked.
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Hamill booked on his last visit to Kilbowie, in an incident which saw Gerry Ronald sent off - may have had reason to complain. But as I said of Mark Treanor last week, players who argue with an official's decisions deserve all they get.

Best for Bankies on a day of varying fortunes were the back four of Treanor, Fallon, McGhie and Gervaise plus stand-in full-back Gerry McLauchlan. But this game wasn't about personal performances. Given and Millar were the eventual heroes, but in years to come the fans will remember not the bad passing, the complacency or the missed chances, but the most dramatic finish seen at Kilbowie for many a year.