Bankies cup dream is over

Published 21 Apr 2010 13:00 0 Comments

Share this

Clydebank... 0

Largs Thistle... 1

(Largs through 0-2 on aggregate)

BANKIES' Scottish Cup dreams came to an end as Largs Thistle edged an uninspiring semi-final clash at Holm Park.

Budgie McGhie's men failed to overturn a first-leg deficit and the Ayrshire outfit grew in confidence when the snatched a controversial goal.

And the Clydebank manager's misery was compounded when hitman Stevie Dallas was stretchered off with a suspected broken angle.

A bumper crowd of 1,600 jammed in to the old ground for the biggest match in the town for 15 years.

McGhie boosted his team's attacking credential by bringing flying winger Brian Smith into the starting line-up.

Just as they did in the first leg, Clydebank started well and Smith was the stand-out player, combining well with Paul Allum on the flanks.

Largs coped well with the early pressure and restricted the home side to few goalscoring opportunities.

A Mark Hailstones effort from the edge of the box was the pick of a meagre handful of half chances.

There was something of the smash-and-grab of Largs' winner in the first leg and a similar scenario unfolded last Saturday.

In a rare foray up the park Largs forced a throw-in wide in the left.

Ex-Clydebank skipper Gordon Lappin fired the ball into the box and it was flicked on to James Marks.

The Largs striker, with his back to the goal, held off a challenge by Martin McInnes before hooking a shot goal wards.

The ball hit the inside of Stefan Gonet's left-hand post before spinning across the face of the goal.

Ross Campbell booted it clear but the referee and linesman both signalled it had crossed the line which gave Largs a two-goal lead in the tie.

It was a cruel blow as Bankies, without hitting the heights, had made all the running again. Clydebank started the second half well and had Largs on the back foot.

Their best opportunities came from corners and it was only last-ditch defending that twice denied John Jack from scoring.

Any hopes of a fightback seemed gone just after the hour mark, when Dallas landed awkwardly and badly damaged an ankle. He was immediately stretchered off and taken to hospital.

Largs, thereafter, took a stranglehold of the game and didn't give the Bankies a sniff of goal.

The Clydebank players received warm applause from the home fans who showed their appreciation for another great cup run. But few could argue about the outcome of the tie. Largs showed in this tie that once they get their noses in front, they have the organisation, commitment and quality to hang on to the lead.

Clydebank can now get back to the pressing matter of trying to secure promotion to the Premier Division.

After a visit to Arthurlie in the Central League Cup tonight (Wednesday), they get back to league business on Saturday with a trip to face Ayrshire outfit Maybole.

This article appeared in Clydebank Post 21 Apr 10

Follow @clydebankpost

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.