Clydebank boss Gordon Moffat hailed his side’s performance against opposition three levels higher than his despite defeat at the weekend.

The Bankies were unfortunate to lose out 1-0 in the West Dunbartonshire derby at The Rock on Saturday, with Joe McKee’s goal the only difference between the teams.

Moffat’s side were the better in the opening period and gave Dumbarton no time on the ball. However, they were limited to shots on goal from distance with efforts from Lee Gallacher, Frazer Johnstone and Craig Holmes comfortably dealt with by the Sons goalkeeper.

The closest either side came to an opening goal was when Gallacher’s strike from the edge of the area cracked off the post and was cleared by the Dumbarton defence.

The hosts came out much better in the second period and it only took seven minutes to find the only goal of the afternoon as McKee controlled the ball well and slid the ball underneath the onrushing goalkeeper and into the back of the net, via a touch off of the post.

Jamie Donnelly impressed in the Bankies net as he kept out Conner Duthie and McKee before Matt Niven headed just over the bar at the other end in his sides only real chance of the second half.

It was a worthwhile exercise for Moff’s side who didn’t look out of place in large parts against their League One opponents and the 38-year-old took plenty away from the match.

Speaking to the Post, he said: “There’s a lot of positives for us to take from that. It’s a much more worthwhile exercise for us at this stage, two weeks away from the season starting.

“We’ve really tested ourselves on our shape, getting our distances right and all those wee things that have much more value to me than going and winning eight- or nine-nil at this stage of pre-season.

“The only disappointment from Saturday is that we lost the game – we’ve won every game of pre-season so far and I was keen to keep that unbeaten run going.

“We’ve been trying to balance the minutes across the squad, we’ve been keeping an eye on the stats, running yards and minutes the guys have put in and make sure everyone gets an equal workload.

“They got on top of us in spells in the second half but overall I’m really pleased.”

Moff was also relieved to see the SFA reverse their decision not to allow under-21’s to compete in this seasons Lowlands Development League.

The SFA had initially knocked back a proposal that would see 2001 born players compete in the league after they missed out on a year of football last season due to the pandemic.

A total of 483 players across the country, including 10 from Scott Carson’s under-20’s side at Clydebank, would no longer have been eligible to compete in the set-up as they were considered over-age but the SFA have since made a U-turn.

Moff added: “I’m delighted for the guys, the management of the 20’s and obviously the club because it’s a big thing for us. We’ve got 20’s guys who are knocking on the door for our team.

“It’s so important and it was common sense in the end. I’m glad they reversed it.”

Clydebank host Dalbeattie Star at Holm Park this Saturday, July 10, with kick-off at 2.45pm, before Moff’s side begin their West of Scotland Football League campaign with a trip to Beechwood Park to face Auchinleck Talbot on July 17.

Bankies’ first home league match of the campaign is against Cumbernauld United on July 21.