By David Brockett

CLYDEBANK picked up their first point of the season with a 0-0 draw at home to Arthurlie on Saturday.

Bankies boss Kieran McAnespie made four changes to the side that lost 5-0 to Auchinleck Talbot last Saturday with Josh Lumsden, Reece Pearson, Johnny Allan and Scott Miller all returning to the starting 11.

In the absence of Calum Gow and Ross Forsyth, McAnespie opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation that saw Bankies skipper Alan Vezza drop to centre back while Reece Pearson partnered Johnny Allan in the holding midfield role. Morton loanee Miller made his first start for the club as the solitary striker as Jordan Shelvey and Ciaran Lafferty both dropped to the bench.

Midway through the half, a surging run from Deas saw the ball drop to Johnny Allan at the edge of the box but the midfielder’s rising effort flew over the bar. On his return to the starting line up, goalkeeper Josh Lumsden’s was only called into action once in a dismal first half, comfortable gathering MacAuley Wilson’s floated free kick.

Steven Weir, Graham Girvan and Wilson were all cautioned for the visitors prior to the break as neither side remotely threatened to open the scoring.

Into the second half it was Bankies winger Josh Watt who came the closest to having an effort on goal, with the former Motherwell man’s turn and shot held safely by Grant Hay in the Lie goal.

Occupying the lone striker role, Miller found himself isolated for most of the game – with a speculative curling effort his only real chance of the game.

On the hour mark Arthurlie could’ve went ahead when Wilson floated another dangerous free kick into the area but Alan Vezza’s sliced clearance found its way safely back to Lumsden.

And with seven minutes left on the clock, Arthurlie should’ve snatched all three points. A quick counter attack down the left channel saw Jamie Lindsay play a neat one two before side footing the resulting cross a whisker wide of Lumsden’s near post as both sides held on for a point apiece.

Bankies are now set to come up against some familiar faces in Budgie McGhie, Gordon Robertson and Allan Hamilton as they prepare to face Kilbirnie Ladeside next Saturday. Kick off at Valefield Park has been changed to the later time of 3pm.