Burntonians feel the heat in feisty cup tie

Published 2 Dec 2009 14:00

Craigmark Burntonians 0 Clydebank 1

INJURY-HIT Bankies battled their way through to the fourth round of the Emirates Scottish Cup against Ayrshire outfit Craigmark - who ended the match with nine men.

Manager Budgie McGhie and coach Stuart Allison were added to the squad and Gavin MacQueen, from the club's under-19 side, signed on the morning of the match.

It was all hands to the pump as Clydebank sought to maintain a fine record in the Junior game's premier tournament. The Station Park pitch only just passed a referee's inspection and it wasn't hard to see why it was causing concern.

The glue-pot surface made the match a real slog for both sets of players, but Bankies matched the

spirited Dalmellington men - and it made all the difference.

Robert Nolan gave the visitors an early fright when he stole in behind Mark Hailstones to home in on goal, but he was quickly closed down by keeper Stefan

Gonet, who forced the midfielder to shoot into the side netting.

When Steven Holland headed over Clydebank knew they had a game on their hands, but they had already shown they were up for a scrap.

Searching runs from Brian Smith and good work from strike duo Stevie Dallas and Andy Selkirk helped put Craigmark on the back foot. Just after the

half-hour mark, Smith got his reward for a bright opening when he pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the six-yard box to give keeper Steven Douglas no

chance.

With Bankies looking solid at the back, especially in the heart of the defence, where Martin McInnes and Gary Lynn were immense, it was hard to see any way back for Craigmark.

But McGhie's men were rocked when the home team made a spirited opening to the second half.

Again, Clydebank were up to the task and coped well, gradually edging their way back to dominance.

In the closing half hour it was all Bankies and they should have added to their lead.

Dallas worked the keeper twice in the space of two minutes, with a header from a Selkirk cross and a volley from a perfect John Jack delivery. Hailstones should have doubled the lead 20 minutes from time but he fired over the bar after Smith's great wing play created a fine opening.

Two minutes later Hailstones came close again with a fierce volley that crashed back off Douglas' right-hand post. McGhie introduced 17-year-old Gavin MacQueen after Selkirk picked up a knock 10 minutes from time.

Craigmark were then reduced to 10 men when Darren Tallen received a second booking.

In stoppage time the referee's red card was out again when Bankies' Paul Allum and Scott Dinwoodie were ordered off for fighting. But Allum's dismissal did little to diminish the delight of a Clydebank squad keen to emulate last season's cup heroics.

Clydebank's next game is on Saturday away to Ashfield. Kick-off 1.45pm.

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This article appeared in Clydebank Post 02 Dec 09

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