CLYDEBANK manager Budgie McGhie criticised his team’s defending after the Bankies went down 4-1 to league leaders Kilsyth Rangers at Holm Park on Saturday.

The Bankies are now seven points behind Super League First Division leaders Kilsyth but are still well in the hunt to finish in the promotion places.

However, McGhie is adamant that any hopes of promotion back to the top flight will soon be dashed if Clydebank continue to defend the way they did on Saturday.

He said: “At any level if you don’t make your challenges, and I’m talking about basic challenges, basic defending, you’re going to struggle.

“We didn’t do that. It wasn’t just one player, it was umpteen times where I thought we should win the ball and stop their players running through. It was too easy for them.

“It was like a hot knife through butter which is really disappointing because, albeit we have a young squad, you have to have a bit more steel about the team.

“You’ll get nowhere in junior football if you don’t show desire, regardless of the position you play. You need to have that bit of mental and physical strength when it’s called upon.

“We made it far too easy for Kilsyth with the goals we conceded. Ultimately we paid the price for it.”

At the halfway point of the season, Clydebank go into the Christmas break with six wins and four defeats from their 12 games in the league so far.

There have been plenty of highs and lows performance-wise as well and that inconsistency is a frustration to the Bankies boss.

He added: “It’s disappointing.

“At times we’ve played some decent stuff, but we’re just too inconsistent. Individually and collectively.

“We’re at the stage where it doesn’t matter which system we play.

“We’ve changed it a few times and it’s worked short term but at the end of the day, it is all about the players.”