Hapless Lok fall at final hurdle as brave Bankies cashinonLeagueCup
No.1 FOR JUNIORS
CLYDEBANK were crowned Central Sectional League Cup winners for the second time in four years with a 2-0 victory over Pollok .
And few among a considerable crowd at Somervell Park would find it in themselves to begrudge the Bankies their prize after Kieran McAnespie’s men totally out-fought their much vaunted opponents.
An unfortunate own goal from Lok skipper Paul Gallagher and a Josh Watt tap-in will go down in the history books for having inflicted the damage but Clydebank’s greater attacking threat should have brought further goals.
It was a fully merited win and Lok assistant manager Murdie McKinnon made no attempt to gloss over his side’s shortcomings.
He said: “There are no shortage of good players at this club but nobody gives us a divine right to win games and today we didn’t turn up.
“We didn’t win our battles all over the pitch and as a result our quality never came to the surface and it’s probably on the money to say the game passed us by.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Clydebank who came with a game plan and carried it out to perfection. There is no mistaking the better team won today.”
The pace of Bankies striker Jordan Shelvey (later named Man of the Match) troubled Pollok in the opening exchanges and only a terrific Jordsan Longmuir stop thwarted the striker after he outpaced full back Paul Byrne on the left.
Matt McLean’s long throws had also caused a few anxious moments, and one of his hefty hurls led to Clydebank going 1-0 up just after 20 minutes through Lok skipper Paul Gallagher deflecting McLean’s shy into his own net.
Their fortuitous breakthrough boosted Clydebank’s spirits and their backline – with stopper Jamie Darroch outstanding – continued to give precious little away.
THEY also managed to conjure up a crucial second goal approaching half time as Watt outpaced Ross Brash and got in a shot that the advancing Longmuir parried but only into the midfielder’s path to stroke home into an empty net.
Pollok had a greater zip emerging after the interval but all their pressure brought no reward and supporters’ hearts sank after Ryan McGregor fired high and wide after a miss-kick by Bankies full back David Verlaque.
Darroch appeared to be a magnet for every ball played upfield by Pollok and the defender’s presence in the penalty box proved every bit as effective as he was pushed by McGregor going for a corner kick to earn a penalty kick award.
Shelvey took responsibility but his wellstruck effort was brilliantly saved by Lonfmuir however his heroics failed to motivate his Pollok team mates who couldn’t fight their way back into contention.
The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes among the Bankies players and fans, much to the delight of player/boss Kieran McAnespie, who said: “We suffocated Pollok by inviting them to come at us while all the time looking to hit them on the break . “Our playing style was never going to be pretty but it was effective against a very good side and that’s all that matters in cup finals.”