Clydebank boss Gordon Moffat hailed the character of his players as they battled to a 2-2 draw at Auchinleck Talbot on the opening day of the 2021/22 season.

An own goal put Bankies ahead in the first-half but Talbot hit back through Kieran Healy and Keir Samson before Chris Black’s header.

Moff, who was banned from the touchline following his red card against Rossvale last season and had to watch on from the stand, was delighted his troops managed to get through a difficult start to the second half and welcomed the point against the seven-time West region champions.

Speaking to the Post, he said: “It’s a good, solid start for us. You’re a wee bit disappointed having led that we never won the game, but in hindsight, when you’re playing Auchinleck away, a point is a good result.

“When you’re leading at Auchinleck and they come on strong and get themselves in front, not many teams will come back from that. I’ve seen that movie before when they go on to win 3-1, 4-1 or 5-1.

“It shows the progress that we’ve made as a team that the boys still believed, and I still believed that at 2-1 we could get something out of it.

“There’s definitely been a mentality shift from the players. That’s what I’ve asked for, and it’s pleasing to see it in action.

“Being up in the stand was frustrating, because I like to get involved in the game, and you can only do so much from the position in the stand.

“The backroom staff took care of the situation well and it didn’t really affect us too much.

“We had done quite a meticulous preparation and met somewhere before we arrived at the ground to do a team meeting and get that dealt with. The boys carried out the game plan really well, and we managed to get something out of it."

Clydebank got off to a flyer on 19 minutes when Ciaran Mulcahy’s cross from the right-hand side was turned into his own net by Talbot’s Neil McPherson.

The home side turned things around in the opening 15 minutes of the second half when Kieran Healy curled the equaliser into the net, despite claims from Clydebank that Black had been fouled in the build-up, and Keir Samson then finished well when one on one with Jamie Donnelly to put Talbot in front.

Moff’s side stayed in the game despite going behind and experiencing some close calls at the back, and managed to find the equaliser when Black got on the end of Paul Byrne’s inviting cross to head past the goalkeeper to secure a point.

Bankies welcome Cumbernauld United to Holm Park tonight (Wednesday) in their first home fixture of the West of Scotland Football League campaign – and the first chance supporters will have had to watch senior football in the town for 25 years. Kick-off is at 7.30pm.

This Saturday, July 24, Bankies are back on the road as they travel to Guy’s Meadow to take on Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, with a 2pm kick-off.