GORDON Moffat has taken full responsibility for his Clydebank team’s shock opening day defeat at home to Benburb.

The Bankies gaffer and his players were given a warm Holm Park welcome on Saturday as they began their league campaign in Clydebank for the first time since 2019.

But management, players and supporters alike were stunned after falling to a 3-2 defeat against the newly-promoted team from Govan – a scoreline that was only improved thanks to a late rally by Moffat’s players.

Benburb were two up at the break and extended their grip on the game early in the second half to lead 3-0.

An own goal and a late Matt Niven header weren’t enough to give the Bankies at least a point.

Speaking to club media after the game, Moffat said: “We lost our head a wee bit.

“We went chasing. I don’t know if it was being at home and you’ve got to go chase the game but, for a wee bit, we were just chasing out of positions and looked totally disjointed.

“Benburb were just sitting and picking us off on the counter. It wasn’t good for that wee period.

“That’s on me, I’ve got to take that on the chin. It was me putting together the pre-season and preparation and everything about it.

“It was me that picked the team. There were some difficult decisions to make in the team selection today and that’s all on me.

“It’s difficult to lose your first game at home. There was a great turnout today, so it was really disappointing we put that on for them.”

Clydebank started the stronger, with Benburb keeper Callum Law somewhat fortunate on three minutes when he escaped with just a yellow card after he raced out of his goal and wiped out Bankies striker Callum Graham.

But there was nothing lucky about the Benburb opener, as Declan McDonald was afforded too much room and he burst through the Bankies defence to rifle past keeper Kieran Hughes on 21 minutes.

The away side was in dreamland nine minutes later as McDonald grabbed his second as his low shot went under the despairing Hughes to make it 2-0.

There was further pain for the home team just three minutes into the second half when Aaron Black netted for the Premier League new boys, who finished third in the First Division last year.

Moffat rang the changes minutes later, with Creag Little, Nicky Little and Larry McMahon replaced by Niven, Frazer Johnstone and Ciaran Mulcahy.

With 15 minutes to go, returning hero Chris Black – who officially rejoined the Bankies on Friday after stepping away for personal reasons in March – forced an own goal off a Bens defender to make it 3-1.

Sub Niven then scored with a great effort on 83 minutes to give Bankies some hope but it wasn’t enough to salvage a point.

And Moff admitted an equaliser would have been unfair on the triumphant visitors.

“I thought Benburb deserved their victory, it wouldn’t have been deserved if we had nicked something,” he added.

Clydebank travel to Meadow Park on Wednesday to take on Irvine Meadow.

Kick-off is at 7pm.