Bankies put Vic to the sword

Published 26 Aug 2009 15:00

Clydebank 3 Whitletts Victoria 1

CLYDEBANK got their league campaign off to a flyer with a convincing win over newly promoted Whitletts Victoria.

The Ayrshire side came to Holm Park on the back of an impressive opening-day victory against highly-rated Girvan.

But Budgie McGhie's men proved far too strong and won comfortably despite missing TWO penalties.

The Bankies boss said: "It was a good start and quite a convincing win and it is certainly something to build on.

"I don't think the score-line was a true reflection on the 90 minutes and it probably flattered them a wee bit.

"But it was a good performance."

The home side started well and had a great opportunity to open the scoring when Whitletts keeper Martyn Barclay felled an alert Stevie Dallas for a stonewall penalty.

Skipper Gary Lynn stepped up but his normally reliable left foot failed to find the back of the net as Barclay redeemed himself with a fine save.

Dallas again proved a menace to the hard-working Ayrshire men to create his team's opener just before half time.

The striker picked the ball up wide on the right before swinging in a cross for John Jack to nod past Barclay from close range.

It was no less than Clydebank deserved and the healthy home crowd saw their favourites raise their game higher after the break.

Ross Campbell tested Barclay with a stinging first-time shot that the keeper did well to block before a needless penalty was conceded by Whitletts full-back Marc Cameron for handling John Harvey's cross.

Stevie Dymock stepped up to take the spot kick, aiming to improve on captain Lynn's first-half effort. But the striker's effort was poor and Barclay blocked it with his legs.

Minutes later, though, Dallas blasted home to double the lead after a neat pass from Paul Allum created the opening.

Allum added a third, which Barclay should have saved, after great work from Brian Smith on the left flank.

With almost half an hour left, the match was effectively over and despite the introduction of fresh legs - McGhie brought on Charlie Hobbs, Andy Selkirk and Shaun Molloy - the home team failed to add to their tally.

Whitletts grabbed a consolation goal in stoppage time when Michael Fulton was first to react to the rebound from a great block by Stefan Gonet.

Clydebank hope to continue the good work on Saturday when they travel to East Renfrewshire to face Neilston.

Looking forward to the clash at Brig O'Lea, manager McGhie said: "What we need to do now is to simulate our home results and performances on our travels because that's what let us down last year.

"We are starting with a difficult away fixture at Neilston who are just relegated, but they beat Ashfield in their opening fixture and that would indicate it is a difficult place to go."

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This article appeared in Clydebank Post 26 Aug 09

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