LIAM McGONIGLE capped his return to action with the winner as Clydebank picked up their first three points of the season.

The winger had been out of action for seven months after suffering an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) against former club Rossvale back in December.

‘Bilbo’ has been featured in Bankies’ squads in the last few weeks but took to the pitch for the first time on Saturday – and hit the only goal with less than ten minutes to go against Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.

Clydebank boss Gordon Moffat hailed the impact of McGonigle and now hopes he can force his way back into the first-team.

He told the club’s social media team: “I’m delighted for him. It’s been a long road, as any footballer will tell you when you do an ACL.

“That’s mentally quite challenging and he’s had some tough times with it.

“He played 20 minutes on Friday for the development team and he said himself he was a bit rusty but was ready to come and give us 20 minutes today – and what a difference he made.

“When you’ve got a guy with that ability to come on to a game like that, it speaks for itself.”

Saturday’s win at Guy’s Meadow followed hard on the heels of a 2-2 draw at home to Cumbernauld United last Wednesday - a momentous night for the Bankies as the club’s fans were able to watch their team play in the town as a member of Scottish football’s senior set-up for the first time in 25 years.

The terraces were packed at sun-kissed Holm Park for the Bankies’ first home game of the season in the West of Scotland Football League, but the visitors didn’t read the script, and Kieran Boubekri all too easily found his way through the penalty box before knocking the ball under Jamie Donnelly to open the scoring early on.

Cammy McClair grabbed an equaliser with an arrowed strike into the top corner at the end of the first half to get his side back into the game.

The goal failed to give Clydebank the lift they needed, and Tom Neil re-established Cumbernauld’s lead eight minutes into the second half.

The home side were knocking on the door in the dying stages and captain Nicky Little turned and found the net from close range to grab his side a point.

Moff was serving the final game of a two-match suspension following a red card last season and was in the middle of the terrace watching on.

Speaking to the Post, he said: “It was a massive night for the club, and I don’t know if that played a part in the performance.

“Last year we had no fans and it was in a wee comfort zone so I don’t know how much of a part that played.

“We’re delighted to have them back, and want them to keep coming back in their numbers, so we need to put on better performances.

“It’s been a long time coming, so to have a night like we did with the weather and a good turnout, it was brilliant.

“Standing in amongst them was enjoyable but the result wasn’t what we wanted.”

Bankies are back on home turf tonight (Wednesday), when Cumnock are the visitors to Holm Park with a 7.30pm kick-off.

This Saturday, July 31, Moffat’s troops head to Ayrshire to take on Troon, with a 2pm kick-off at Portland Park.

Meanwhile, it’s been a tough start to life in Conference C of the WoSFL for Yoker Athletic, whose opening game last Wednesday ended in a 5-2 loss away to Drumchapel United, and was followed by a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Kilsyth Rangers at Holm Park on Saturday.

Yoker travel to Gasworks Park to face Larkhall Thistle tonight (Wednesday) at 7.30pm, before Glasgow Perthshire visit Holm Park on Saturday, July 31 for a game which gets under way at 2pm.