PDM HUWS GRAY	WOSFL Premier Division	Match 03
Clydebank	4 (1)	Collins 2, Slattery, Mulcahy
Glenafton Athletic	1 (1)	Fraser
Sat 05 AUG 2023	KO 2:00 pm	Holm Park, Clydebank

Glenafton made two changes to the starting eleven that faced Troon on Tuesday evening with Luke McBeth (suspended) and Dylan O’Kane making way for Zak Ross. making his first start for the club, and Alex McWaters.

In the Clydebank starting eleven was former Glenafton player Lee Gallacher, captain for the day, while in the dug-out was manager Gordon Moffat, another former Glens player.

The Glens kicked off and the game quickly fell into the pattern of play going back and forth at a pace without seriously testing the keepers. It was the visitors that were first threaten through Michael Moffat breaking into the ‘D’ and from within a pocket of 3 defenders he slipped a forward diagonal pass into the left-hand side of the box for the incoming Alex McWaters only for keeper Kieran Hughes to rush from his line and block the shot at the corner of the six-yard box at the expense of a corner-kick.

Scott McLean curled the kick into the six-yard box where Matt Niven’s attempt to clear the danger failed to clear the box and Gary Fraser got the jump on his marker Joe Slattery on the 18-yard line to nick the ball and a couple of steps later he slammed it home from 12 yards. Glens 1-0 up after 6 minutes.

Played continued to flow from end to end before the Bankies gained the upper hand for a spell. Lee Gallacher set up Slattery for a shot from the edge of the box that was blocked by Paul Paton and deflected out for a corner. Gallacher delivered the kick to the back post where Niven from the six-yard line leapt to send a high looping header to other post where Slattery looked certain to head home from a few yards only for either Moffat or Ryan Sinnamon or both on the goal line to head it out for another corner.

Gallacher curled this corner into the heart of the goalmouth where Paton won the aerial battle with Tom Collins sending the ball rolling to the edge of the box to be snapped up by Frazer Johnstone sliding tackle who then jinked his was past 3 defenders before the ball fell for Collins to lash the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards. Bankies back level on 13 minutes.

Normal service resumed as both sides sought to add to their tally. Gallacher tried a cheeky lob from the ‘D’ that keeper David Markey clutched. At the other end Sam McKee broke through the middle before drilling a low shot from 30 yards that keeper Hughes fumbled before mopping up the loose ball.

Midway through the half a Clydebank corner was whipped high to the back post where team-mates Niven and Ciaran Mulchay leapt in unison but under pressure from Craig Pettigrew the ball flew inches wide of target.

Back came the visitors through McKee and McMullin combining down the left before the latter fired the ball to the back post for the inrushing McWaters only for his header to drift wide, under pressure from Oisin McHugh.

Soon after McWaters gathered the ball in the centre circle and in a flash played a slick one-two with Moffat before showing McHugh a clean pair of heels to break into the box and draw the keeper from his line only for Hughes to tip his angled shot round the post. The corner kick was headed clear and the ball quickly recovered by the Glens who continued to press. McKee burst through the middle and then fed McMullin on the left to launch another trademark ball into the box for Moffat only for Niven to intercept and cleart for a shy from which Sinnamon and McMullin combined to win a corner, which was also cleared.

Back came Glens and McWaters and Moffat were hogging possession on the outskirts of the box with slick passing and movement. Finally, they managed to breach the box and the ball fell for Fraser only for his shot to be blocked and headed back out the box by Niven which was retrieved by McLean but his shot flew high over the bar.

On the half hour mark Bankies began to enjoy a good spell of pressure with Collins and Slattery in particular looking lively albeit without testing the keeper including a free kick from the edge of the box that was drilled into the Glens wall.

At the other end McKee made another powerful run driving to the left-hand corner of the box before feeding McMullin on the left wing to fire the ball to the back post for Moffat, only for McHugh to intervene and head clear.  Soon after Sinnamon’s free kick from 30 yards cleared the wall before sailing high over the bar.

On the closing minute of the half Pettigrew robbed Slattery of the ball just inside the Glens half and it fell for Moffat to knock it on for McKee to gather and break deep into the box with McHugh on his heels, then clipped a low angled shot that slipped just wide of the hands of the diving keeper and unfortunately beyond the far post.

Bankies launched the ball upfield where Paton met it on the drop sending it high into the air before descending into the centre circle where it was Fraser that met it on the drop and lobbed it forward with McKee tracking its course from an attacking perspective and Niven from a defensive perspective. As the ball bounced McKee raised a high boot in an attempt to control it while simultaneously Niven dipped his head in an attempt to clear it – the pair collided and ball flew up into the air as Niven collapsed to the ground in some discomfort. The referee promptly flashed the red card to McKee and both sides debated the decision while Niven received treatment

Glens mustered one more attack before the break after Moffat released the ball down the left for McWaters to chase with the recovered Niven now in hot pursuit to the corner flag from where McWalters cross into the box was cleared and an entertaining and eventful half drew to a close.

HT Clydebank 1 Glenafton 1  

Clydebank kicked-off and were immediately on the front foot through Slattery weaving his way into the left-hand side of the box before chipping the ball high into the six-yard box but just beyond the head of the leaping Collins allowing the ball to continue and drift inches wide of the back post.  Soon after Mulcahy progressed to the right had corner of the six-yard box and although Zac Ross did well to block his shot the ball fell for Slattery only for his shot to be deflected wide by McLean for a corner that Gallacher floated to the near post which was headed clear by Pettigrew.

On 49 minutes Bankies recovered the ball and patiently switched the ball from the left to the right where Hodge and Gallacher combined to win another corner kick that was executed straight from their play-book with excellent timing and precision. Gallacher played it short to Lowe on the corner of the six-yard box who then rolled a diagonal ball back to Gallacher now at the edge of the box, 12 yards from the bye-line, and from here he squared the ball at pace to the unmarked Joe Slattery to meet it first time and sweep a low hard shot the whizzed through a busy 6 yard box and into the net.   

The home side continued to press making full advantage of the extra man stroking the ball about with ease.

On 55 minutes Glenafton made a change with Alex McWaters making way for Alan Frizzell and before the dust had settled the Bankies doubled their advantage. Another patient build concluded with Johnstone switching the ball to James Grant on the outskirts of the box on the left-hand side from where he quickly slotted a diagonal pass to Collins as he broke into the box but with no prospect of a shot he touched a cleverly weighted ball wide for Ciaran Mulcahy to gather and turn before drilling a low angled shot under Markey from 10 yards out. Bankies 3-1 up on 56 minutes.

Glens mustered a break down the left from where McMullin whipped a great ball to the near post for the inrushing Frizzell only for McHugh to intercept at the expense of a corner which was headed clear by Johnstone. Back came the visitors and Paton won the ball on the half-way line and clipped it high into Bankies box but this too was cleared and Clydebank countered in deadly fashion.

Slattery pounced on the loose ball and slipped it to Gallacher on the half-way-line who played a one-two with Lowe before taking a touch or two and firing the ball upfield for Tom Collins to chase down into the left-hand side of the box and after controlling it with his head he volleyed an unstoppable shot from 8 yards out. Three goals in a 9 minute spell put the Bankies 4-1 up against the 10 men on 59 minutes!

On 63 minutes Glens brought on defender Ollie Rowe for striker Michael Moffat while soon after Bankies replaced Adam Hodge with Larry McMahon.

The visitors had a short spell of possession in the Bankies half without ever breaking into the box or testing the keeper.

With 15 minutes to go the Bankies made their final changes with Lee Gallacher and Nick Lowe making way for Alan Kelly and Liam McGonigle.

Glens made good progress down the left for McLean to float the ball into six yard box for Frizzell and Rowe and although the latter outjumped the two defenders keeper Kieran Hughes leapt to clutch the ball cleanly.

The Bankies finished with a flurry of shots –  Johnstone blasted well over the bar from 18 yards, Kelly’s curling effort from 20 yards was well held by Markey and then the keeper got down low at the post to hold Little’s angled strike.

Clydebank 4 Glens 1

GLENAFTON ATHLETIC
1. David Markey 15. Zak Ross 6. Paul Paton 5. Craig Pettigrew (c); 2. Scott McLean 8. Gary Fraser 11. Ryan Sinnamon 7. Sam McKee 3. Michael McMullin; 9. Michael Moffat (20. Ollie Rowe) 10. Alex McWaters (16. Alan Frizzell) Subs: 14. Lyall Holding 18. Dylan O’Kane

CLYDEBANK
1. Kieran Hughes 2. Adam Hodge (17. Larry McMahon) 24. James Grant 4. Matt Niven 15. Oisin McHugh 6. Frazer Johnstone 7. Lee Gallacher (c) (21. Alan Kelly) 8. Joe Slattery 19. Ciaran Mulcahy (9. Callum Graham) 23. Nicky Lowe (11. Liam McGonigle) 14. Thomas Collins (10. Nick Little) . Subs Used: