Airdrie 1
Clydebank 3
League Cup (Group 3)

Match Report

Clydebank's new strike force blasted Airdrie's League Cup hopes at Broomfield on Saturday.

Former Kilbowie favourite Blair Millar was totally overshadowed by the dynamic duo of Tommy Coyne and Bobby Williamson, who tormented the unsuspecting Airdrie defence.

Two first-half goals by the pair killed off the home challenge and gave Bankies a thrilling start to the new season.

Airdrie, who must have felt this was going to be their easiest League Cup tie, were stunned by Clydebank's attacking flair.

Bobby Williamson, who has been moved from defence to fill the striker's role left by Blair Millar, looks an exciting prospect in attack.

He scored the opening goal and set up the other two for Tommy Coyne, who looked much sharper than he did last season.

The play flowed from end to end until Bankies shocked the home support with a simple, 32-minute goal.

Bobby Williamson took advantage of a defensive mistake to run unchallenged for 40 yards before slipping the ball past John Martin.

Five minutes later, Williamson made a second goal for Clydebank, when he cut the ball across goal.

Coyne slid in to side-foot it over the line. Airdrie looked to be in disarray and Williamson had the chance to tie up the match, but Martin made a fine save to deny him.

In the second half Airdrie began to look a little more like the side which crushed West Ham 3-0 - and Bankies were under pressure.

When Jim Flood scored with a 59th Minute header after a Millar shot had rebounded off the post, the Broomfield men looked capable of grabbing an equaliser.

But Bankies continued to attack and were rewarded with a goal after 64 minutes, when Williamson again tucked the ball past keeper Martin for Coyne to score at the post.

The goal killed off Airdrie and Clydebank could have increased their lead when they broke through the offside trap time after time.

But Bankies won't be complaining about a scoreline which put them top of their section on Saturday, with Hibs and Rangers drawing 1-1 at Easter Road.

Apart from Williamson and Coyne, keeper Jim Gallacher excelled and Martin Hughes harried the Airdrie all afternoon.

The midfield were creative and the defence played tightly to make it a frustrating day for Blair Millar.

The only disappointment was the unsettled Gerry Ronald, just back from holiday, who looked short of fitness and was replaced by Campbell McKeown in the second half.