Holm Park hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Talbot of late and so it proved again as the runaway league leaders moved a step closer to the inevitable title flag. On a night when Talbot were second best for the most part the Bot made a positive start in the opening minute with Thomson finding Gillies running in behind down the left but his ball across the face of goal was cut out by Leishman.

A minute later Clydebank showed their threat when they won a corner down the right. It was flighted in under the bar and Armour was able to punch it away under pressure. In the 6th minute Talbot had an effort on target when McIntosh squared the ball inside to Abed just outside the area. He tried to place it and Leishman got down to smother it.

The hosts had a half chance in the 18th minute when Samson’s ball down the right picked out Little in behind the defence. He had a chance to shoot but didn’t fancy the angle and opted to lob a cross beyond the far post where the move fizzled out.

Two minutes later the home side moved ahead. There was little Armour could do about it as GALLACHER cut inside off the left and arrowed a shot in off the underside of the bar. The Bot had a let off in the 22nd minute when Clydebank passed up a chance to double their lead. Cairns whipped over a right foot cross from the left wing that found Samson’s head but he glanced his free header wide of the left post.

In the 24th minute Grant was cautioned for a late challenge on Boyle. Talbot had another escape after 28 mins. Gallacher fired over a good cross from the left which Samson headed just wide of the left hand post.

Down the other end McAvoy squared the ball for Gillies to have a go from distance and his shot took a deflection off Syme and over the bar for the corner. The corner was worked short but when the cross came in it was too close to Leishman who made an easy catch.

On the half hour mark Clydebank came close again. They won a corner down the right and once again it was swerved into the goal mouth. Under pressure, Armour was able to punch it clear but it came out to Cairns at the edge of the area. His low drive found the target but Armour blocked it away with his feet.

In the 34th minute Talbot levelled the match. The ball was worked right to McIntosh in space and he drilled a low shot on target. Leishman spilled it out and EWAN THOMSON tucked the rebound away to make it 1-1. Clydebank were soon back on the front foot and had 2 half chances in quick succession. Low slid the ball through the right channel to find Black inside the area but his shot from a tight angle was comfortably held by Armour at his near post. Soon after Low cut in off the right and squared it across to Little inside the area. He had his back to goal and was able to turn but he was closed down and his shot blocked away.

The home side kept pushing forward but Talbot held out and went in level at the break. Early in the 2nd half Thomson turned smartly on the right and curled over a good cross into the centre but McAvoy was just beaten to it in the air.

In the 52nd minute Clydebank came close to regaining the lead. A ball down the right channel found Samson and he raced into the box and fired into the side-netting.

With 58 mins gone the hosts took the lead again. Clydebank worked it down the right where Grant stood a cross up to the back post and SAMSON headed home.

Clydebank now made a switch with Samson coming off and Mulcahy on. Clydebank were now in control and in the 70th minute Talbot made a quadruple substitution with Kerr on for Schoneville, Langan for McIntosh, Nimmo for Thomson and Mitchell on for Abed.

In the 74th minute Clydebank made a further change with McGonigle replacing Black. Three mins later Mitchell went down with a head knock following an aerial duel but the referee allowed play to continue. The home side broke swiftly down the right and when it came across goal Mulcahy side-footed it straight at Armour.

With 5 mins remaining Clydebank made a double change with Low & Gallacher off and Biggar & Truesdale on. The closing stages passed without any incident and Clydebank saw it out to claim all 3 points.

Next up for Talbot they are back in league action and back on their travels as they make the short trip south to face Glenafton.

Clydebank – Leishman, Grant, Carey, McHugh, Syme, Low, Gallacher, Cairns, Samson, Little, Black

Subs – Hodge, Mackenzie, Mulcahy, McGonigle, Truesdale, Biggar

Auchinleck Talbot – Leishman, Clark, Schoneville, Wilson, McPherson, Boyle, McIntosh, Gillies, McAvoy, Thomson, Abed

Subs – Nimmo, Mitchell, Langan, Kerr, Slooves, Hanlon, Sime