Clydebank v Cumbernauld United

Recap

Joel Kasubandi hit a twenty three minute hat-trick as Clydebank comfortably dispatched Cumbernauld United 5-0 to go top of the league on Saturday.

Further goals from Nicky Little and Ryan Holms gave Clydebank an unassailable lead against United, who ended up with nine men having seen Scott McHaffie and Simon Eeles dismissed.

Manager Budgie McGhie made three changes for the victory, Andy Paterson, Joel Kasubandi and Jordan Shelvey replaced Danny MacKinnon, Ryan Holms and Scott Jackson. The win saw Bankies win back to back games, a feat not achieved at all last season.

It took less than two minutes for Bankies to open the scoring with a swift counter attack. Mark Burbidge’s through ball released Johnny Allan who, with a neat cutback, found Kasubandi who blasted in from six yards.

Burdbidge was involved again for the second just four minutes, latching on to Hashim Cole’s excellent diagonal ball before squaring the ball to Kasubandi, who took a touch before coolly slotting the ball under Ian Wilson.

Bankies stopper Josh Lumsden was then called into action for the first time, rising expertly to tip Mike McLaughlin’s header to safety, before creating a chance at the other end.

Lumsden’s long kick caught out the Cumbernauld defence, with Kasubandi on hand to nod the ball beyond Wilson with a neat header, becoming the first Bankies player to score a hat-trick at Holm Park in over two years.

Great hold up play by the impressive Kasubandi saw the ball break to Johnny Allan who, with four assists this season, could’ve added a fourth goal had it not been for a fantastic fingertip save from Wilson.

Just before the hour mark, Cumbernauld were reduced to ten men. Jordan Shelvey was tripped and a free kick awarded, but Scott McHaffie blasted the ball straight at Shelvey, with referee Craig Walker not hesitating to brandish a straight red card.

Three minutes later, Bankies added a fourth. Kasubandi turned provider and, after a great step-over on the left touchline, squared the ball to Little who made no mistake, tapping in his seventh goal of the season.

With ten minutes remaining, Clydebank scored their fifth. Substitute Ryan Holms rose highest at the back post and, despite the Cumbernauld defender’s best effort to catch the ball on the line, the goal was given.

Cumbernauld’s misery was compounded on the stroke of full time when Burbidge dispossessed Eeles, who tripped the impressive winger and received his second yellow card of the day as Clydebank eased to their sixth win in seven games.

Next up for Clydebank is the visit of Bellshill Athletic to Holm Park next Saturday, kick off is 2pm.

Clydebank: Lumsden, Halliday, Paterson, Vezza, Cole, O’Neill, Burbidge, Allan, Kasubandi (Young 65), Little (Cree 77), Shelvey (Holms 65).