Blues Rescue Point: Stranraer 1 Clydebank 1

On a day that was sunny but it had a slight wind, Stair Park stood still to serve a minutes silence for the Queen Mother.

Stranraer kicked off and soon found themselves defending early on. After a patient build-up, Derek Ferguson hit a shot which was goal-bound and Mark McGeown had to scramble to his left to turn the ball away for a corner.

More Bankies pressure followed only a few minutes later. The Blues defence appeared to clear a good move by Clydebank, Paul Shields nipped in and hit a great strike that swerved in the wind. Thankfully it went straight into Mark McGeowns hands.

Again stout defending by Stranraer followed, with the Bankies having at least 3 chances to score in the space of only 10 seconds. The ball was eventually cleared for a corner. The corner came in and Ally Graham towered above everybody to send a bullet header wide.

Clydebank were controlling the midfield at this stage and Ally Graham was the main instigator. A deep cross forced was met by Graham and his header was aimed at the bottom corner of the net. Only a scramble by Mark McGeown saw the ball clawed to safety by the keeper.

George Shaw was fouled and Stevie Aitken took the resulting free kick. He swung the ball in, but Fraser Wright headed it well wide. Disappointingly, this was Stranraer's best chance of the half.

With the minutes of the half ticking down, Stranraer's attack is broken down and Clydebank counter-attack quickly. A powerful 25-yard shot is fired goal-ward by a Bankies forward, which McGeown parries well but it falls at the feet of Ally Graham who hits his shot high and wide of goal.

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A disastrous start to the second half by Stranraer. Bankies sub Eric Paton puts in a high swinging ball to the back post where Ally Graham, who was unmarked, accurately heads the past the helpless Mark McGeown.

The shock of this goal must have woken the Blues up as soon afterwards Allan Jenkins started a swift move. The Stranraer native passed the ball to Harty, who went dribbling down the wing and he passed the ball back to Jenkins who then crossed the ball to Paul Blair who hit a shot from 12 yards out. The strike cannoned off the crossbar and fell to George Shaw who somehow headed over the bar with the Bankies 'keeper nowhere to be seen.

Things got better, Ian Harty robbed Andy Whiteford of the ball, and ran into the box and hit a rifling right foot shot into the top corner of the net.

Stranraer should have had a penalty midway through the half. A high punt from the defence found Ian Harty who as usual dribbled into the box and then was bought down. The crowd was screaming for a penalty which wasn't given.

The last decent chance fell to the Bankies. Eric Paton hit a vicious 30 yard volley that rocketed off the cross-bar. Mark McGeown was a clearly beaten by this effort.

In summary, Stranraer were lucky to come away from the game with a point. Clydebank controlled the mid-field and had most off the possession. If Clydebank took their chances it could have been 5 or 6 to Clydebank at the end.

Stranraer MOM: Ian Harty - he caused the Bankies defence a lot of trouble. He also scored a very good goal as well. A special mention to Mark McGeown for his saves throughout the game which kept Stranraer in the game.

Team / Formation:

	McGeown
Jenkins	Wingate	Wright	Stirling
Grace	Aitken	McDonald	Dempster
Harty		Shaw

Subs

• Blair for Dempster (54 min)
• Farrel for Jenkins (61 min)

Subs not used: Glancy, Gallagher, O'Neill

Referee: J. Gilmore

Stranraer Bookings:

Shaw (73, dissent)

 

Clydebank: Robertson, Whiteford, McGowan, Vella, McKinnon, McColligan, Ferguson, Shields, Graham, O'Neill, McGrillen. Subs: Hamilton, Jackson, Nicholls, Paton, Smith.

Clydebank's point of view
Stranraer scorers this season	Current League Table	Messageboards