Clydebank 1
Dundee Utd 1
League (First Division)

Match Report

Grant Johnson was dropped and replaced by Dave Bowman - back from his face injury which he sustained in September. Another enforced absentee was Jamie McQuilken who was suspended. At the outset, United dictated play and took the lead after eight minutes, albeit courtesy of an error by the Bankies keeper. Robbie Winters chased a long ball from Ally Maxwell and drilled in a low shot which slipped through Matthews hands and into the net.

A great start, but not for the first time this season, one on which United failed to capitalise. Not that the chances weren't there. Two minutes after going in front, another long ball out of defence, this time from Rab Shannon, found Owen Coyle clear in on goal down the left, but the former Bankie pulled his shot narrowly wide of the far post. Bankies didn't threaten until the 16th minute when Jack worked his way into the box, but Ally Maxwell quickly advanced from his line to block his effort.

There was a livelier start to the second half when United should have stretched their lead. Owen Coyle drove in a shot from the right which David Hannah scooped back into the middle at the far post, but Craig Brewster's header was straight at Matthews.

Currie fired one in just over the top as the home side began to put pressure on United for the first time in the match. And with 17 minutes left, the home side equalised. Ally Maxwell went for a corner from the left, but failed to deflect it away properly. The ball fell to Robertson whose shot was blocked and Paul Lovering scored what was his first ever goal in senior football and that was enough to secure Bankies their first point in three meetings with United this season.

It might have been different had Brian Welsh's header not drifted narrowly wide and David Hannah's raging shot not flown just over, but once more, we paid for our failure to kill off the opposition after going in front.

CLUB COMMENT - "We must start turning draws into victories. I'm disappointed . Once again Dunfermline lose and we pass up the chance of going top." - BILLY KIRKWOOD, MANAGER.