Moffat hails brave Bankies as Annan edge a cup thriller
MANAGER Gordon Moffat insisted his players did Clydebank proud despite suffering late heartbreak as they fell to a last-gasp extra-time defeat in a pulsating clash.
The West of Scotland League outfit were leading with just a few minutes of extra-time remaining, only for the visitors to hit them with a devastating double.
Moffat said: ‘It is really raw right now. I felt we had one more tie in us and we were only three or four minutes away, it is difficult.
‘In extra-time, we just ran out legs, there were too many carrying cramp and the game was just five minutes too long for us in the end.
‘The players couldn’t have given any more, I’m more disappointed for the boys than I am for myself.
‘I’ve told the players to walk off with their chests out. They deserved the round of applause at the end — not just for today, but the cup run as a whole.’
Kick-off was delayed by 10 minutes as a capacity crowd of 1,200 flooded into Holm Park to see the Bankies continue their cup adventure and they got their monies worth in an afternoon packed with drama.
Annan enjoyed a bright start and opened the scoring in nine minutes. Aidan Smith was fouled 25 yards from goal and Owen Moxon fired home a spectacular free-kick beyond Jamie Donnelly.
The hosts had struggled to settle, though they passed up a glorious chance to level when Matt Niven fired over the top with the goal at his mercy, and the Annan keeper was forced into an excellent stop to keep out Chris Black’s fizzing drive.
Having survived two close calls, Annan should have doubled their advantage on 25 minutes when Donnelly failed to deal with Moxon’s corner but Steven Swinglehurst blazed high over the bar from close range.
The home side equalised on the stroke of half-time when Jamie Darroch headed Lee Gallacher’s corner into the path of Hamish McKinlay and he prodded the ball home to spark wild celebrations.
Annan restored their lead after 54 minutes as Matt Douglas powered home a header from Rowan Steele’s long throw and Swinglehurst saw his header cleared off the line as the League Two side threatened to put the game beyond doubt, but again Moffat’s team responded.
McKinlay combined with Chris Black and the midfielder produced a superb volley into the top corner to level for the second time.
Clydebank made a dream start to extra-time when Ciaran Mulcahy was on hand to convert after a goalmouth scramble and for the first time the Holm Park side were ahead.
The hosts soaked up everything the visitors had to throw at them, but there was to be a cruel twist as Annan sub Robert McCartney levelled in the last minute and, with the game seemingly destined for penalties, Iain Anderson headed the winner in the third minute of injury time.
Annan boss Peter Murphy declared: ‘I’m in a little bit of a daze, on one hand I feel a little bit sorry for Clydebank — they gave it everything — but my players never gave up and scored two goals in the last couple of minutes.
‘That’s sort of the dream of the cup and we are delighted to be through to the next round.
‘I spoke to the Clydebank manager and a couple of their players. Right now they feel that everything has been taken away from them. I’ve been in that position myself where you lose games that you think you should have won.’