CLYDEBANK’S hopes of automatic promotion were dealt a blow on Saturday when they went down 4-1 to league leaders Kilsyth Rangers, writes David Brockett.

A double from experience striker Ian Diack and goals from Nicky Prentice and Paul McBride saw the visitors extend their lead on the Bankies at the top of the table to seven points.

Bankies boss Budgie McGhie named an unchanged side for the match, choosing to stick with the 3-4-3 formation that brought a comfortable win against Cumbernauld United the previous week.

Midway through the first half, Kilsyth opened the scoring. Latching on to a clever ball over the top, Prentice fired the ball past Bankies stopper Josh Lumsden at the near post.

Robbie Halliday had the only real chance of note in the first half, forcing a great save from Rangers stopper Andy Carlin after a good interchange of passing with Mark Burbidge.

Just minutes later, Kilsyth doubled their lead. McBride got the break of the ball and proceeded to waltz through the Bankies’ back line, sending Lumsden the wrong way as Kilsyth began to build momentum.

McGhie rang the changes at the interval, replacing Halliday with Cammy Haddow and reverting to a 4-3-3 system, with Jamie Lyden dropping to right-back.

However, it was to go from bad to worse as Kilsyth doubled their lead within a minute of the restart. Former Bankie Scott Davidson let fly from 20 yards, with Lumsden unable to hold the shot and Diack finishing well from a tight angle.

Six minutes later there was to be at least some respite as Bankies pulled a goal back. Lone striker Stevie Young capitalised on a poor back-pass from Davidson, taking the ball round Carlin and shooting into the bottom corner.

On the hour mark, Kilsyth restored their three-goal cushion. Ricky Prentice once again caused havoc down the left flank, whipping in a great cross for experienced, but unmarked, striker Ian Diack to stroke the ball home.

Clydebank failed to carve out any further opportunities as the final match of 2016 petered out, and Bankies will hope their form in 2017 will revive their promotion hopes.

Clydebank: Lumsden, Halliday, Paterson, Darroch, Gow, Lyden, Burbidge, Vezza, Young, Little, McGill.