Cup final showdown

Published 2 Jun 2010 09:00 0 Comments

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Central League Cup semi-final

Clydebank 3 Petershill 2

COURAGEOUS Clydebank staged a dramatic comeback from two goals down on Friday to claim a place in the final of the Central League Cup.

It was the fourth game in seven days for Budgie McGhie's side who keep producing remarkable results in a never-ending season.

They had earned a place in the last four against Premier League Petershill thanks to a deserved 2-0 win last Wednesday against First Division champions Rutherglen Glencairn.

But after 32 minutes of the semi-final at Holm Park their dreams of a cup final at Pollok's Newlandsfield Park looked in tatters.

Paul McBride headed home from a yard out midway through the first half to punish a static looking home defence that failed to clear a long throw-in.

And 10 minutes later Shaun Molloy turned the ball past Stefan Gonet for an unfortunate own goal.

Few would have given McGhie's men a chance of clawing their way back into the match against a strong Petershill outfit, which featured ex-Bankie James McKinstry and coach Brian Wright.

But their response was almost instant and they soon halved the deficit with a stunning strike from Mark Hailstones after great work from midfield dynamo Nikky Cairney.

Bankies' longest serving player rattled the ball past Hill keeper Anton Nugent from 25 yards for the goal of the game after a storming run from his own half.

Gaffer McGhie made a tactical switch shortly after the break with the introduction of forward Mark Kilpatrick to support the impressive Chris Mackie, who had led the line superbly as a lone striker.

The leveller came on 68 minutes from the head of Ross Campbell who nodded home a Gary Lynn corner - Bankies' first of the match.

By then Stevie Dymock had been introduced and the home team pushed three up front.

The change of system set up a blistering final half hour, with chances at either end.

Both teams had their moments but when the Clydebank defence was breached Gonet - the sponsors man of the match - was in fine form with three outstanding stops.

At the other end, Dymock and Kilpatrick came close during a period of sustained pressure and were unlucky to see decent efforts turned wide.

The winner eventually came 10 minutes from time from another Lynn corner.

Mackie had an outstanding match and deserved to be the player who sent Bankies into the final.

He stooped to head past Nugent before running half the length of the ground in celebration. Few could deny him his moment, although Hill skipper Michael Keenan did his best.

His last minute tackle on the Clydebank hitman earned a second yellow card for the player, but it should have been a straight red.

Thankfully, the big number nine wasn't too badly hurt and was able to take his place in the side for last night's final against fellow First Division side Ashfield.

For an update on the outcome of the final go to www.clydebankpost.co.uk.

This article appeared in Clydebank Post 02 Jun 10

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