Clydebank Post | Sport | SO UNLUCKY 05/10/06

Thursday, 8th January, 2009

Published: Wednesday, 4th October, 2006 10:11

SO UNLUCKY 05/10/06

By SPORTSCENE

Scottish Junior Cup Clydebank .. 0 Glenafton .. 1

CLYDEBANK crashed out of the Scottish Cup to Glenafton on Saturday — but not one of the 500 plus crowd at the entertaining first round tie could say Bankies weren’t the better side.

Clydebank took the game to their illustrious Ayrshire opponents from the first whistle, creating chance after chance.

But in the end the scrappiest of goals settled the affair, leaving Budgie McGhie’s men ruing a series of missed opportunities.

Clinton Maxwell was looking to maintain his recent hot streak of form when he tried an overhead kick that flew inches wide.

Mark Hailstones’ free kick came closer but former Clydebank keeper Garry Matthews pulled off a fine save.

Jim Chalmers had a quiet time at the other end as his team-mates pressed for an opener.

The Glens were sitting fourth in the Super League Premier Division going into the match, but you could have been forgiven for mistaking who were the top-drawer side.

David Fisher was causing all sorts of problems on the left with raiding runs that have been so typical of the on-form midfielder.

Against the run of play, just after the hour mark, Glens took the lead in bizarre circumstances.

Sweeper Barry Docherty tried to clear but only managed to hit John Cunningham, before the ball broke to Darren Johnstone, who fired past Chalmers.

Although the big striker was in an offside position, and the linesman raised his flag, the referee spotted that the ball had come off a Clydebank player and rightly allowed the goal.

The Bankies rolled their sleeves up and pushed to get back into the match.

McGhie introduced Derek Forbes and the home side stepped up the pace.

They created chance after chance as their all-round superiority showed.

Mark Bowie hit the post with a great header after a fine cross from Fisher, before Forbes missed two golden opportunities.

The lightning-quick striker blasted over from inside the six-yard box after great work from Martin McInnes created the opening.

Then, Matthews broke Bankies hearts when he blocked Forbes’ diving header from a Bowie cross.

But despite unrelenting pressure, Glenafton held out, much to the relief of their travelling support and experienced gaffer Gerry Collins.

Clydebank: Chalmers, McInnes, McKay (Renny 81), Kenna, Cunningham, Docherty, Hailstones (Carson 87), Lappin, Bowie, Maxwell (Forbes 65), Fisher. Unused subs: Soutar, Boyce.

Clydebank are now set to play in the Sectional League Cup final tonight (Wednesday), their first final since returning to the junior ranks just over three years ago.

The Bankies take on Pollok at Lochburn Park, the home of Maryhill Juniors, and the players can’t wait.

After their impressive showing against Glenafton, Clydebank can take heart from the fact that the Glens last month beat Pollok 3-1 on their own ground.

But as one of the biggest names in the junior game, the Glasgow side will be overwhelming favourites to take the Sectional League Cup home with them.

Unfortunately, Scott McKay will be missing through work commitments but the club have flown Andy Williamson back from Dublin for the night and he should start at left back.

Ged Hoey will miss out because of a knee injury, but apart from that Clydebank are in fine fettle.

This weekend Bankies are away to second place Cumbernauld, where they will try to make it six league wins out of six.

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