PROMOTION BID STILL ON TRACK

Published 19 May 2010 14:00 0 Comments

Share this

Rutherglen Glencairn........ 2

Clydebank....................... 3

A SENSATIONAL last minute winner from trialist Mark Fitzimmons kept Bankies' automatic promotion hope alive and spoiled Glencairn's title party.

Budgie McGhie's patched up side knew they needed to win their five remaining games to finish runners-up to Monday night's hosts.

Anything less than a win would mean a play-off spot was all Clydebank could achieve, and with two trialists drafted in to bolster the squad it looked a tall order.

Chris Mackie was one of a handful of players who needed treatment before taking the field as physio Del Kelly worked his magic.

But the big striker was at his best when he latched on to a Fitzimmons pass to open the scoring after 13 minutes.

It was a fine finish and capped a superb move involving five players, including the excellent Nikky Cairney.

The Glens levelled 10 minutes later when Stephen O'Keane drilled a low shot past an unsighted Stefan Gonet.

Bankies should have regained the lead but Mackie's header from a Billy Jones corner flashed wide of the target.

Five minutes after the break, Mark Hailstones brought the best out of Glens keeper Stevie McNeil with a well-struck 20-yard shot. McGhie introduced Mark Kilpatrick and within a minute he almost had the visitors ahead but McNeil did well to block the striker's effort.

At the other end, a rush of blood to the head saw skipper Gary Lynn concede a penalty by bringing down Paul Thomson with a rash tackle.

O'Keane missed the spot kick which came crashing off the cross bar and was brilliantly hooked clear by Sinky Soutar for a corner.

Unfortunately, Lee McShane nodded home from the set-play and the champions took a lead into the last 25 minutes.

Bankies had used all their subs by the closing 15 minutes, with Martin McInnes and trialist Graig McGorm, nephew of former Clydebank hero Tom McGorm, being introduced.

McGhie went all out for a win and he and his players were rewarded in a remarkable finale to a smashing game of football.

Kilpatrick started the comeback with a header from six yards after the home defence failed to clear.

Bankies kept chasing the win and although they have been through some gruelling encounters recently, found a winner from somewhere.

Fitzimmons, who was drafted in the day before the match, had already a fine assist to his credit. But in the 90th minute he topped that and then some.

The midfielder, from an almost standing position 20 yards out, smashed a diagonal shot high into the net to take the points back to Holm Park.

It was an absolute belter and sets up a remarkable run-in which starts tonight (Wednesday) against Neilston, kick-off 7.30pm.

• CLYDEBANK will admit all supporters to Saturday's home match against Annbank for free.

The UCS Trust is sponsoring the match and hope to encourage a bumper crowd along to Holm Park for what is a vital match in the club's bid for promotion.

Bankies chairman Gordon Robertson was delighted at the welcome sponsorship and urged as many fans as possible to come along. He said: "We are still in the thick of a promotion bid so, to everyone out there, come along and give the Bankies your backing."

This article appeared in Clydebank Post 19 May 10

Follow @clydebankpost

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