Clydebank manager Gordon Moffat was delighted to see his side score with one right off the training ground as they ended 2021 with a convincing home win over Kilbirnie Ladeside on Saturday.

Nicky Little found the net from the spot to send Bankies on their way before Ross McPherson got the second after a smart set-piece routine.

The Holm Park side took the lead on 35 minutes after Chris Black was brought down in the box and Little stepped up to convert from the penalty spot on his 30th birthday.

The second half was less than five minutes old when the lead was doubled through McPherson.

The build-up saw Lee Gallacher exchange a corner shot with Liam McGonigle before receiving the ball back and teeing up ‘Archie’ to roll the ball into the corner.

That was how the scoring would remain, despite both sides ending the game with 10 men as Adam Hodge was dismissed for Clydebank after being shown a second yellow and Dylan Henry was sent off for the visitors with 15 minutes to go.

Moff also introduced development squad players Dylan Coll and Connor Hamilton in the second period as they continue their transition into senior football.

The Bankies boss was pleased to end the year with a victory ahead of the two-week break – and admits the prospect of stewing over their Christmas dinner after dropping points was used as a motivational tool to his players before the game.

Speaking exclusively to the Post, he said: “It’s been a great first-half to the season for us.

“We spoke before the game that we knew it was important to end on a high because we’ve got a wee lull for a couple of weeks and you don’t want to be stewing on that. We used that as motivation, and the boys got a result.

“It’s good to see goals like the second one come off. Our overall record from set plays – corners in particular – is really good.

“We spend a lot of time working on them for that reason, so it’s good to see them come off.

“It’s the stuff that players probably find a bit boring, but when they see the rewards from them it’s a bit easier to motivate them for that 20 minutes that we spend at training working on them.

“We’ve picked up again after the middle part of the first-half of the season and most teams have had a wee blip. We’ve been in pretty good form again recently.

“I challenged them four games ago to try and get nine points before Christmas and through into the next round of the cup – and we’ve managed seven and through in the cup.

“There are three clean sheets in there as well, which is pretty pleasing. We’ve certainly ended the year in pretty good form.”

Bankies end the year in third place in the West of Scotland Football League Premier Division – now three points behind Auchinleck, who were knocked off the top of the table on Saturday after they lost to Kilwinning, and five adrift of new leaders Pollok, who seized top spot with a 1-0 win away to Beith.

Clydebank are back on the pitch on January 8 when they travel to New Tinto Park to take on Benburb.

Elsewhere, Yoker were forced to postpone their final game before the Christmas break due to an outbreak of Covid cases in the squad.

A statement from the club posted to Twitter on Friday said: “Unfortunately tomorrow’s match away to @StRochsJuniors has been postponed due to a Covid situation within the Yoker squad. A big thanks to the guys at St Roch’s for their good wishes.”

The Whe Ho return to action on January 8 when they face Vale of Clyde at Holm Park.

Drumchapel United, meanwhile, dropped points in one of Saturday’s more surprising WoSFL results when they were held to a 3-3 draw away to lowly Vale of Clyde in Conference C.

Drumchapel’s next match is also on January 8, when Petershill are the visitors to Lochburn Park.