Clydebank slumped to their fourth defeat in five games with a dismal 2-0 loss away to Cumnock on Saturday.
Second-half goals from Andy Dowie and Ryan Caddis saw Bankies fall to their third successive away defeat in the West Region Premiership in arguably their most insipid performance of the season.
Bankies boss Gordon Moffat made just one change to the side that lost away to Kilwinning Rangers last weekend with Kyle Munro returning to the fold in place of Cammy McClair who dropped to the bench.
In a fairly dull first-half where Clydebank created next to nothing, it was the home side who missed the biggest opportunity to break the deadlock. Bankies stopper Marc Waters came to collect a cross ball, but succeeded only in palming the ball straight into the path of Nock winger Chris Campbell. His effort looked all but goalbound, with only the last ditch intervention of Jordan Kennedy keeping it out.
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Moffat’s men were probably fortunate to go in level at the break, with the home side having strong claims for a penalty waved away. The ball appeared to strike the hand of a Clydebank defender in a crowded penalty box, but referee Connor Ashwood said play on.
Bankies’ only chance of note came through a free-kick awarded 25-yards from goal. Munro’s fizzing effort forced Ally Semple into a strong save with Conor Lynass somehow blasting the rebound over the bar from five yards out.
If the travelling Bankies support were unhappy with an indifferent first-half, the opening two minutes of the second period were set to frustrate them even further as Cumnock took the lead. A corner on the left saw Dowie evade Alan Vezza, getting goal side of the Bankies skipper at the back post to bullet home a header back across goal.
Bankies were dealt a further blow five minutes later when defender Kennedy had to be carried from the pitch after suffering another injury setback.
The visitors only real joy of the game came from Munro and his set pieces, with another free-kick forcing Semple into a save on the hour mark.
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On 67 minutes, another defensive blunder lead to the fatal second goal. Alistair Miller’s diagonal switch caught the Bankies defence napping, with goalkeeper Waters rushing out before realising he was caught in no man’s land. Caddis took advantage of yet another self-inflicted goal, comfortably slotting the ball home.
As the clock ticked down, Clydebank’s only real chances of salvaging anything from the game were squandered by Del Hepburn. First, a ball over the top set it up nicely for the wide man, but his attempted lob was never going to trouble Semple. Then, he let the ball run across his body but blasted it high and wide in a shot that summed up Clydebank’s day.
Up next for Moffat’s men is a trip to Hurlford this Saturday. Kick-off at Blair Park is 1.45pm.
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