Hamilton Accies 3
Clydebank 1
League (Division 1)

Match Report

It would have been unbelievable, if we hadn't seen it all before

Talented, promotion-chasing Clydebank throwing away goals and missing chances galore against a team who shouldn't be able to live with them.

With the exception of last Wednesday's win over Dumbarton, the past few games have been like a recurring nightmare for the Kilbowie faithful. Three times, at Ayr, at home to St. Mirren and at Hamilton, they have seen their side crushed by two first half goals and then struggle vainly in the second half.

Now, I don't imagine I'm telling Sammy Henderson & Co. anything they don't know already, and I certainly have no intentions of kicking them when they're down, albeit temporarily, but it seems to me that every time I hear Bankies fans discuss a game, the conversation gets round to the same subject.

Oh aye," they say, "the lads played some nice football. They just need to start putting the chances away and stop losing silly goals."

On Saturday Clydebank managed neither. In fact, considering the talent they have on display, they were totally inept on both counts.

Gerry McLauchlan will want to forget his return to first team football. Recalled in place of the injured Budgie McGhie, his incredible first-half own goal set the pattern for the afternoon.

With Jim Gallacher coming off his line to collect a long through ball, the tall defender gently lobbed a pass-back over the keeper and into the far corner.

A minute later he almost made amends, but Rikki Ferguson dived to pull off a brilliant save from his 25-yard free-kick.

Hamilton's second goal came when Terry Wilson ignored Clydebank's appeals for offside and raced on to place a lovely shot between Gallacher and his left hand post.

Still, there was always the chance that Bankies would fight back after the break. Until, that is, the man with the famous name, John Brown, took advantage of some defensive indecision to slam the ball home from 10 yards only two minutes into the half.

Eight minutes later, Jim Given swept home the goal of the match to give Clydebank some hope. but there was always the feeling they just were not going to score. Main culprit when it came to missing chances was Blair Millar, the striker who looked to have ended his goal famine with a fine effort against Dumbarton. He missed three good chances to get his side back - into the game.

To his credit. the big man has kept plugging away. getting in into scoring positions and making chances for his team-mates.

Although some national newspapers seem to think that Clydebank's promotion challenge is over, I think Bankies will bounce back. A couple of good results and they'll be back in there fighting.