Clydebank 0 - 1 Pollok

2008/09 Citylink Scottish Junior Cup
Semi-Final, 2nd Leg
2.30pm kick-off
Saturday 25th April 2009
Millburn Park, Alexandria

Clydebank 0 -
Pollok 1 - McClay (12)

3-3 on aggregate, Clydebank won 4-1 on penalties.

Att: 1659



Clydebank will face Auchinleck Talbot in the Citylink Scottish Junior Cup final after securing a dramatic penalty shoot out win after the tie finished level over two legs.

The match was played at Millburn Park, Alexandria - the home of Vale of Leven - because Clydebank's usual home venue at Yoker's Holm Park was deemed unsuitable to host the large crowd that was expected.

This was a really poor quality match with little or no flowing football but you kind of expect that at Junior football anyway. Pollok opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Andy McClay hooked a loose ball into Stefan Gonet's bottom right hand corner.

The match finished 1-0 on the day and 3-3 on aggregate over the two legs. Away goals didn't count and instead of extra-time the match just went straight to penalties. Ex-Morton goalkeeper Gonet was the Bankies hero after a crucial save from a one-on-one in the 90th minute ensured the tie went to pens. He made two saves in the shootout one of which was an absolute belter to send the Bankies to the final at Rugby Park.

Other Morton connections included Derek Wingate (he played as a trialist against Ayr United in 2000/01) who played the full 90 minutes for Pollok. Shaun Dillon and Robbie MacKillop were both there with the 'Lok squad but weren't involved in the match squad.

My Pictures

Apr 25th 2009 at 14:30 Millburn Park

Attendance: 1659

Clydebank

0 - 1 (4 - 1 PEN.)

Pollok

Referee: Stevie O'Brien

Scottish Junior Cup / Semi Final 2nd Leg-match

Goalscorers

None.

McClay (12)

Opening squads

Stefan Gonet Gary Lynn Martin McInnes Gavin Rushford Sinclair Soutar Iain Anderson John Jack Brian Smith Charlie Hobbs Chris Mackie Mark Hailstones

Robertson Carruth Aitchison McClay Wingate Miller Hardie McGeown Dingwall Turnbull Essler

Substitutes

John Cunningham Paul Allum Steven Blair Alan Jack Ryan Scobie

Downs Waddell Cruickshank Newall McKay

Substitutions

Steven Blair -> Iain Anderson (67) Paul Allum -> Brian Smith (80) Alan Jack -> Mark Hailstones (89)

Down -> Miller (57) McKay - Essler (75)

Yellow cards

Chris Mackie (50)

Carruth (23) Dingwall (31) Aitchison (78)

Red cards

None.

None

My man of the match: Stefan Gonet (Clydebank)

Sponsor's man of the match:


Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)

clydebankfc.co.uk - match report

pollokfc.co.uk - match report

Scotland 2 - 1 Iceland

2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifier
8pm kick-off
Wednesday 1st April 2009
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Scotland 2 - McCormack (39), S. Fletcher (65)
Iceland 1 - I. Sigurdsson (54)

Att: 42,259

This was a nail-biting match from which Scotland emerged with a crucial three points. However, the match will be remembered for the antics of Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor - who were both given life bans by the SFA for the 'v' signs (pictured, below) they gave to photographers.

Ross McCormack opened the scoring when he curled a superb right footed shot into the top corner after a tardemark surging run and lay-off by Alan Hutton (Scotland's best player if you ask me).

Lyn Oslo's Indridi Sigurdsson stunned Hampden 9 minutes after half-time when he placed the ball past Craig Gordon after Palmi Palmasson's stunning effort had crashed back off the post. I thought Stephen McManus gave Palmasson too much room to shoot and from what I've heard Gordon looked slightly slow in his efforts to get up for the rebound.



11 minutes later we were back in front when Hibs' Steven Fletcher flicked a close range header past Gunnleifer Gunnleifsson after a McCormack corner was flicked on by McManus.

We managed to hold on for the win despite a late onslaught from Iceland in which Gordon pulled off two oustanding saves - one with what appeared to be made with his face. The saves had the Scotland support singing his praises while at the same time leaving McGregor in no doubt that he wasn't Scotland number 1 on their eyes.

For me Ross McCormack, Alan Hutton and Craig Gordon were Scotland's stand out performers while Eidur Gudjohnsen showed flashes of his class for Iceland. You have to feel sorry for the Barcelona man as he is well above the rest of his team mates when it comes to ability, it must be a frustrating experience every time he pulls on his nation's jersey.

My Pictures

Scotland (4-4-2):

1. Gordon - 8
2. Hutton - 8
3. Naysmith - 6
4. McManus (c) - 7
5. Caldwell - 7
6. Morrison - 7 (16. Rae - 90 mins)
7. D. Fletcher - 7
8. Brown - 7
9. Miller - 5
10. S. Fletcher - 6 (13. Teale - 77 mins)
11. McCormack - 9

Subs Not Used:

12. McGregor
14. Berra
15. Ferguson
17. Clarkson
18. Whittaker

Gordon
Hutton Caldwell McManus Naysmith
Morrison Brown D. Fletcher McCormack
Miller S. Fletcher

Iceland: Gunnleifsson, Danielsson, Kristjan Orn Sigurdsson, Indridi Sigurdsson (Bjornsson 80), Eiriksson, Steinsson, Aron Gunnarsson (Eggert Jonsson 70), Helguson, Palmason, Gudjohnsen, Smarason.

Subs Not Used: Arason, Gudmundsson, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Gunnarson, Bjarnason.

Booked: Smarason.


My man of the match: Ross McCormack

Sponsor's man of the match:


Matchday Programme (Click to enlarge)

Match Ticket (click to enlarge)

scottishfa.co.uk - match details

BBC match report

The Daily Record match report

The Scottish Sun match report

The Scottish Sun - Up Yours Scotland (02.04.2009)

The Scottish Sun - 7 Deadly Sinners (02.04.2009)