Clydebank Post | Sport

Monday, 8th September, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 16th August, 2006 09:53

Stalemate

By SPORTSCENE

Sectional League Cup Maryhill .. 0 Clydebank .. 0

UNBEATEN Clydebank are still in with a shout of qualifying from group six of the Sectional League Cup despite failing to topple leaders Maryhill.

Budgie McGhie's men go into tonight's (Wednesday’s) home match versus Ashfield still in with a chance of making it through to the quarter finals.

But it could have been so different had they turned their territorial superiority into goals and a stronger referee dealt with Hill's roughhouse tactics.

The home side started on the attack and Jim Chalmers was twice called into action in the opening 15 minutes to deny danger man Alex Smith.

Firstly, the big keeper blocked the striker's header from a Craig Ferguson cross before stopping a Smith penalty after Jed Hoey held the same player in the box.

The penalty award infuriated the visiting support and was to set the standard for a game referee Andy McWilliams would rather forget. He missed a catalogue of incidents, including what looked like a forearm smash on sub Stevie McDonald in the second half.

He did dismiss one Hill player, Stevie Gallagher, son of Clydebank legend Jim Gallagher, for a second bookable offence.

As the game progressed the Bankies grew in confidence, with a solid looking back four of Martin McInnes, Barry Docherty, John Cunningham and Andy Williams keeping the Super League side at bay.

Cunningham and Docherty have already struck up an impressive partnership in the heart of the defence so fans will be hoping the thigh knock Docherty picked up on the hour mark won't keep him out of action for long.

Going forward Bankies had plenty of the ball but failed to create enough chances, which was perhaps understandable give the absence of playmaker Alan Jack through injury.

Hard working midfielder Andy Kenna almost opened the scoring in the second half, as did Derek Forbes who came close with a free kick.

Chalmers didn't have a save to make after the break but despite having most of the play Bankies didn't create enough chances.

John Cunningham could have capped a fine match with the winner in the closing stages but his header missed the target.

Gaffer McGhie said: “I am disappointed not to win it but we only have ourselves to blame.

“I am reasonably happy with the performance but we should have created more chances and finished the ones we did create.”

Clydebank: Chalmers, McInnes, Williamson, Docherty (Soutar), Cunningham, Hoey (McDonald), Lappin, Kenna, Forbes (Hailstones), Fisher, Maxwell. Subs not used: Sutherland, Carson.

After tonight’s game against Ashfield, McGhie will turn his attention to the league and Saturday's opener away to Dunipace.

He had the Denny side watched last Saturday when they went down 2-1 to an impressive Kirkintilloch Rob Roy outfit.

The Bankies boss said: “They have had a good start to the season and are never an easy team to beat on their own patch.

“But we will go there in a positive frame of mind and give it our best shot.”

Clydebank have some injury worries going into the match, with Alan Jack, Derek Forbes and Barry Docherty all carrying knocks.

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