Clydebank Post | Sport | Bankies don’t give Vics a sniff 28/09/06

Thursday, 8th January, 2009

Published: Wednesday, 27th September, 2006 09:50

Bankies don’t give Vics a sniff 28/09/06

By SPORTSCENE

Clydebank .. 2 Blantyre Vics .. 0

BRILLIANT Bankies maintained their flawless league record with a home victory over Blantyre Victoria — thanks to a first half brace from in-form Clinton Maxwell.

However, despite making it five wins out of five in what is a spectacular start to the season, boss Budgie McGhie was left disappointed with his side’s overall performance — such are the high standards that the Bankies have set themselves.

Speaking after the performance, Budgie told SportScene: “We are pleased with the result but not with the overall performance.

“Our players have set their own standards this season and too many of them failed to live up to them this afternoon.

“The nicest thing I could say about it is that it’s another three points and our record is still intact.”

Maxwell had been rewarded with a place in this week’s starting line-up after last week’s goal-scoring efforts at Vale of Leven, when he came off the bench and grabbed a couple of late strikes.

Opponents Blantyre defied their lowly league position early on by producing the first few goal scoring opportunities in the match.

However, a mixture of poor finishing and last ditch defending preserved Clydebank’s impressive record of never being behind in any of this season’s 11 competitive matches.

The Bankies seemed to be struggling to gain a foothold in the game until the 16th minute, when Maxwell latched on to an Andy Kenna through ball and skilfully lobbed advancing keeper Smith to put the home side ahead.

Bankies were then dealt a blow in the 23rd minute when young midfielder Ged Hoey had to be replaced by another youngster, Jamie Carson, after suffering what looked like a painful knee injury.

Early indications are that it could be a medial knee ligament injury, which could result in the youngster being unavailable for some time.

Clydebank were now gradually gaining the upper hand, with David Fisher in particular prominent in most of their attacking moves.

Substitute Carson then brought out a good save from Smith with a powerful drive at the end of a good flowing move down the left flank.

As the interval approached Fisher embarked on a brilliant lung bursting run from within his own half.

He skilfully drove through a ruck of opposing players and looked like going right through on goal until he was crudely brought down on the edge of his opponents penalty box.

To everyone’s amazement the referee, Derek Nicholls, only issued a yellow card to the Blantyre defender when a red card was surely merited for preventing a goal scoring opportunity.

Skipper Gordon Lappin shaved the post with the resulting free-kick.

Mark Bowie then tried to copy Maxwell’s lob but saw his effort touched over the bar by Smith, who was now being kept really busy.

As the half-time whistle approached Maxwell met a long throw by Williamson with a left foot volley that ended up in the back of the net and gave the home team bit of breathing space for the second half.

After the interval Clydebank opened brightly and Bowie should have done better when played through by Maxwell.

Maxwell was then replaced by the lively Derek Forbes, but although a few more chances were created, this ultimately failed to produce any more goals for the home crowd to savour.

John Cunningham came on for Scott McKay in defence as Blantyre, to their credit, continued to ask questions of the Bankies defence, but on the day the visitors lacked the cutting edge of their opponents.

The final whistle brought applause from the appreciative home crowd who had just witnessed their team complete an inspiring five opening league wins out of five.

Social Bookmarking What are these?