A header 15 minutes from time by Peter McMahon and a last minute clincher from David Crawford made it look a comfortable afternoon for the visitors.

But the truth is the Lanarkshire side made the breakthrough while Bankies were well on top.

The home side went into the match without a recognised central defender. Graham Mort, Andy Irvine and Paul Bell were all out, forcing a change of formation.

Bankies were left with little choice but to go with three at the back but Scott Walker, Austin McCann and Andy Paterson adapted well to the switch.

Shotts were a danger from set pieces but Robert Hamilton coped well early on with crosses into the box that exposed the home team’s lack of height. Hamilton had a few saves to make from distance but they were comfortable stops.

At the other end, Bankies failed to make the most of some promising approach play.

Often that was due to a lack if guile but credit must also go to a dogged Shotts defence who gave very little away.

They could do little prevent Janie Campbell burst into the box shortly before the break.

The dynamic midfielder’s subsequent drive was just too close to the keeper who parried clear.

Bankies introduced ex-St Mirren star Junior Mendes to the attack in a bid to make the break-through.

But that came at the other end 15 minutes from the end when McMahon headed a David Crawford free-kick past Hamilton for the opener.

Ross Harvie had a great chance to level but his header from a Mendes cross drifted wide.

Bankies brought on Jordan Shelvey in the closing stages and pushed hard to get back on terms.

The endeavour was there but Clydebank’s poor return of four goals in seven league games tells its own story.

In the dying seconds of the match former Albion Rovers winger David Crawford slid a loose ball past Hamilton to seal the win.

Bankies trudged from the pitch still searching for their first league victory. They head to Beith on Saturday knowing that three points should takes them off bottom spot in a fiercely competitive division.