Late woe kills off Clydebank chances
Published 10 Nov 2011 09:30
Clydebank..............2
Cumnock................5
A LATE defensive collapse saw Bankies lose heavily despite turning in a another decent performance.
Budgie McGhie's men fought their way back into the match after going two goals behind in the first half.
But despite managing to restore parity around the hour mark, the closing stages saw the visitors run amok to secure the points.
Clydebank started the better side and came close to opening the scoring, firstly through Kieran Burns and then Darian MacKinnon.
The striking duo were proving a handful for the visitors but a combination of good goalkeeping and bad luck kept the score sheet blank.
Cumnock showed they had something to offer on 17 minutes when they took the lead through Willie Howie who headed home a corner at the back post on 17 minutes.
The goal rocked McGhie's men who had been playing some fine football and the visitors took control.
Just after the half hour mark they double the lead and again it was from a corner, this time Stevie Murray heading powerfully past Robert Hamilton at the front post.
'Nock had hardly threatened from open play but from two set-pieces they did enough to go in at the break on level terms.
After the restart, Bankies showed renewed vigour and had their opponents on the back foot.
It was no surprise that they pulled one back on the hour when Burns made it five goals in three game with a deft finish past the impressive Stuart Weatherstone.
The 'Nock keeper had pulled off a string of impressive saves notably from a Ross Campbell header to maintain his team's two goal advantage.
But he could do nothing as the lightening quick Burns pounced on a loose ball to give Bankies hope.
It was soon all square after Adam Strachan ghosted in from the left to fire past Weatherstone, with the aid of a deflection, after good work from Graham Smith created the opening.
It was all Bankies now and if any team looked likely to go on and take the points it was them.
But 15 minutes from time the defence gifted 'Nock a chance to restore their lead and they took it, Gary
Pettigrew slotting the ball past Hamilton from the edge of the box. The goal knocked the stuffing out of the home side and gave the Ayrshire outfit a huge boost.
The poor defending continued and Campbell turned the ball into his own net after the visitors created another good opening.
Aaron Connolly rubbed salt in the wounds in the final minute when he tapped home his side's fifth goal to complete the scoring.
Clydebank players, management and fans looked shell-shocked at the end of a match in which the Holm Park side played well for along spells.
Bankies are at home again on Saturday when Auchinleck Talbot come to town for another tough match, kick off 2pm.
This article appeared in Clydebank Post 09 Nov 11
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