Clydebank Post | Sport | CUP DREAM IS STILL ALIVE

Friday, 16th May, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 19th March, 2008 11:40

CUP DREAM IS STILL ALIVE

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MARKSMEN: Mark Hailstones celebrates his opener with Mark Bowie

Bathgate Thistle 1 v 1 Clydebank

CLYDEBANK kept their Scottish Cup hopes alive with a gritty performance against a strong Bathgate side.

The bookies made Thistle strong favourites to end Bankies’ dreams of cup glory but Budgie McGhie’s shock troops almost gained another big scalp.

Mark Hailstones followed up his stunning strike in the previous round with a spectacular header from an inch-perfect James Lennox cross to open the scoring.

It was the icing on the cake on an almost flawless first half performance with Clydebank in total control.

In a remarkably assured display, considering the quality of opposition, Bankies never looked under any pressure.

With Jerry Packham at sweeper and Lennox in midfield, they had the two best players on the park.And Colin Sutherland and Hailstones weren’t too far behind as the well-organised side McGhie selected exuded composure.

Perhaps the visitors could have threatened Andy Carlin’s goal more often but that would have been the only criticism.

But after the break, Bathgate turned the tables and Bankies had to cling on for their Scottish Cup lives.

Former Clydebank star Stevie Docherty was at his industrious best in the heart of the Thistle midfield and fellow ex-Bankie Paul McGrillen was starting to find room he was denied earlier in the match.

Thistle battered the Bankies for long periods and a leveller looked inevitable.

Midway through the half it seemed it would come from the penalty spot when Barry John Corr appeared to bring down McGrillen.

Few at Creamery Park thought it was anything other than a spot kick, but the near side linesman indicated to the referee McGrillen had dived and the whistler took his word and booked the player.

Video clips later confirmed the officials got it 100 per cent correct as Corr made no contact whatsoever.

Minutes later, it was the lightning fast reaction of full back Paul Allum that kept the Bankies ahead. With McGrillen about to pull the trigger, Allum slid in to block with a perfectly timed tackle

Fifteen minutes from time, though, Thistle got the goal they deserved when Chris McFadyen nodded home a near post corner to set up a tense finale.

Both sides went all out for a winner but it was Clydebank who looked the stronger outfit in the closing stages, which bodes well for the mouth-watering replay.

McGhie said: “It was not a match of silky football but a good game, very competitive. Being honest a draw was a fair result but I was disappointed after having held on for so long. That said, it’s all still to play for.”

Mark Bowie will miss the replay having dislocated his thumb, while Alan Jack and John Cunningham remain doubts.

• Glenhead Park, Saturday, kick off 2.30pm.

Clydebank: Corr, Allum, McInnes, Packham, Sutherland, Soutar (Fisher), Hailstones, Lappin, Bowie (Miller), Lennox, Craig (Proctor). Unused subs: Kenna, Gonet.

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