To homeless Clydebank the trip to Dunfermline was the First Division
equivalent of going to Rangers. To the bottom of the league club pitching up to
face the title favourites the match was one to approach with caution and damage
limitation.

Dunfermline were without Chris McGroarty out through a hamstring injury, so
Eddie May returned at right back, Scott Thomson was switched to left back and
Hamish French came into midfield for the injured David Moss and Steve Hampshire
found himself once again on the subs bench.

Clydebank took the kick off towards the town end and their mediocrity was
immediately in evidence as they blatantly kicked for touch below the West wing
of the main stand.

One way traffic for most of the first half started in the 2nd minute when
Owen Coyle converted a Steve Crawford cross over the crossbar. Next Coyle set up
Crawford but could only win a corner as he was quickly closed down.

Andy Tod headed Stewart Petrie`s corner over the bar.

Twelve minutes gone and Brian Reid cut into the opposition penalty box and
blasted a shot high over the target. In the space of a minute (24th and

25th) first Coyle provided a chance for May and then May for Coyle but both
attempts followed the previous ones over the crossbar.

Just after the half hour a throw in in front of the 75 Clydebank fans in the
North Stand (East) was worked through Petrie and Coyle to give CRAWFORD a low
drive into Colin Scott`s net. After 37 minutes a good Scott Thomson cross
worried the Bankies defence but neither Owen Coyle or Eddie May could connect.

The second goal did come however just four minutes later. Another speedy
break down the left by Thomson allowed Coyle to cross for Stewart PETRIE to
score with a header that looped over Scott.

Clydebank regrouped and came out fighting in the second half as they had done
in the game earlier in the season at Cappilow. The Pars found it difficult to
get anywhere near the Bankies goal with 61 minutes gone before Hamish French`s
cross from the right was parried out by Scott and Thomson skied the subsequent
chance.

Ian Westwater was brought into action two minutes later as a Clydebank free
kick cleared a five man Dunfermline wall. From the corner Eddie May was forced
to clear off the line as Clydebank`s optimism grew.

Steve Crawford had a good burst down the right, Eddie May was denied a shot
with a timely tackle on the 18 yard line. Stewart Petrie fired the ball back
across the goalmouth but Owen Coyle`s diving header went passed the post.

The Pars luck continued to elude them as a Owen Coyle corner found Andy Tod
and when the ball broke to Brian Reid the ball was sent over the crossbar again.

In one of the best displays of skill of the afternoon, Crawford released
Stewart Petrie down the left wing but he was drowned with boos as he failed to
get the cross in for the awaiting French and Coyle. Ten minutes from the end
Crawford provided a sitter for Coyle but the striker failed to take it and then
May had a good shot saved.

Clydebank had introduced all three of their substitutes by the 73rd minute
and Jimmy Nicholl was taking stick for not following their example. The
caretaker manager is on record in Kirkcaldy for not favouring substitutions and
in all his four matches in charge Hampshire for Petrie with four minutes left in
this match was his first change that may have been made for tactical reasons.

It was the visitors 58th minute sub, Danny McKelvie who claimed the Clydebank
goal with seven minutes remaining. A Peter Cormack cross from the left broke off
the sub rattled the crossbar and far post before bouncing back into play. All 22
players thought little of it but the stand side linesman flagged a goal and in
delayed reaction the travelling support started celebrating a goal that left the
other spectators in eerie bewilderment.

The final whistle was met with more boos as Dunfermline walked off with the
three points in difficult circumstances. Their second half display certainly
didn`t match the first 45. If some of the second half chances had been taken
however Dunfermline could have won by a lot more.

DUNFERMLINE: Westwater. May, Tod, Skinner, Reid, Thomson. French, Dolan.
Crawford, Coyle, Petrie (Hampshire 86).
Sub not used: Potter, Graham
Scorers: Crawford (32), Petrie (41)
Yellow Cards: none either side
League Position 2nd
Strip: Black and White home

Referee: C Hardie
Attendance: 4224

Next match v Ayr United (away) League Saturday 4th December 1999