Clydebank manager Gordon Moffat admits his side still needs to improve both in and out of possession ahead of the competitive action getting underway later this month.

Bankies were 2-0 winners over Rutherglen Glencairn at Holm Park last night as preparations for the new season continue.

Second-half headers from Jamie Darroch and Lee Gallacher handed the hosts their first home win of pre-season on a night they paid tribute to club legend Stevie McAneney after his passing last week.

Bankies enjoyed the majority of possession throughout the evening but failed to muster a shot on target in the first half whilst Rutherglen came close on two occasions; one effort was cleared off the line by trialist Chris Black and another well-blocked by goalkeeper Jamie Donnelly after a flowing move.

Moff’s side seemed to play a few yards higher up the park after the break and really made life difficult for the visitors with their penetrating runs and eye of the needle passes cutting the Glen’s defence in two.

Substitute Callum Graham came close on a couple of occasions but had a volley fly just wide and another low shot forced Scott Law into his first save of the evening.

After camping Rutherglen in their own penalty box for much of the second-half, it was then perhaps no surprise when Darroch bulleted home a header from Lee Gallacher’s corner just after the 70-minute mark and the latter had a big hand in the second four minutes later when his cross was flicked on by Graham and into the path of McGonigle who nodded in from close range.

Going forward, the Bankies boss hopes to see performances more like the one his troops offered in the second-half and was pleased to see one off the training ground help get his side on their way to victory.

Speaking to the Post following the full-time whistle, he said: “I wasn’t happy with the first-half at all, you could stand and say we had a lot of the ball but we weren’t hurting them whereas in the second-half we looked like we would hurt them every time we went forward which was the difference.

“It was very similar to the East Stirlingshire game and tonight we maybe never got punished for the couple of chances we gave away so we know we still need to tighten up off the ball and there’s still a wee bit of progress to be made when we have the ball as well.

“A wee set play got us off and running and that’s why we work so hard on them because in a league game that can be the difference.”

The club held a minutes silence in memory of ‘Caskie’ ahead of kick-off after the man of many roles passed away last week.

Moff admits his presence is already missed at Holm Park in what was the first game since his passing and expects the club to honour him further when the competitive action gets under way.

He said: “I think everybody can feel that we are missing him around the place already, and I’m missing him moaning at me for not picking things up!

“The minutes silence was nice and we’ll do something more ahead of the first league game in terms of a celebration and a special programme and an applause.”

Clydebank take part in the Violet Marshall Memorial Cup this weekend at New Western Park where they will compete against Renfrew, Ashfield and Kilsyth to lift the pre-season trophy.

Renfrew and Kilsyth get the tournament under way at 12.00pm on Saturday afternoon with Clydebank taking on Ashfield at 3.00pm.

The two losers will then battle it out in the 3rd place fixture at 12.00pm on Sunday ahead of the final at 3.00pm.

Moff hopes to welcome a few faces back to his squad as he looks to get more minutes into their legs and has targeted lifting the trophy come Sunday afternoon.

He explained: “It’s a tournament so we want to go and try and win it.

“We’re a bit light in certain positions but we’ll go and patch guys up and come in ready.

“Creag Little and Nicky Little will be back for the weekend which will help us because we’ve been missing a few lately with knocks and holidays so it’s good we’ve got guys coming back now but it might be another week for Adam Hodge.

“The likes of Jimmy Grant have had to play every minute of pre-season so far so we want to give guys a rest.”