CIARAN Lafferty came off the bench to score on his debut as Clydebank beat Maryhill 3-1 on Wednesday evening.
First half goals from Ryan Deas and Jordan Shelvey put McAnespie’s men in command before Lafferty scored with a neat finish, while Lee McLelland headed home a consolation for the visitors in injury time.
McAnespie made five changed to the side that beat Glasgow Perthshire, with Scott Morrison, Jamie Lyden, Alan Vezza, Ross Lyden and trialist Johnny Allan replacing Josh Lumsden, Chris Dooley, Jamie Darroch, Phil Johnston and Reece Pearson as Bankies lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
It took 15 minutes for Bankies to create the first clear cut chance of the game, but Ross Forysth’s thumping header from a Deas corner was straight into the arms of Maryhill goalkeeper Tim Hollis.
And midway through the first half Clydebank should’ve taken the leader after Vezza – making his first start of the season – fired a volley straight at Hollis after neat play on the edge of the area.
But Bankies did finally make the breakthrough just before the half hour mark. Good work from Ross Lyden down the left channel saw him find Deas at the edge of the area, with the midfielder rifling his effort into bottom corner as Bankies took the lead.
Three minutes later Jordan Shelvey doubled the lead when his angled drive squirmed through the legs of Hollis as he grabbed his second competitive goal of the season.
And in the second half – just minutes after making his Bankies bow – Lafferty grabbed Clydebank’s third. Quick feet from Shelvey saw him dart to the byline before pulling the ball back across goal for Lafferty to fired home via the post.
Bankies began to build momentum and could’ve added to their tally when Ross Forsyth bulleted home a header from Ryan Deas’ free kick only for referee Tony Fullerton to rule the goal out for a foul by Calum Gow.
Lafferty could’ve also added to his debut strike when he poked narrowly past the post before dragging another attempt wide after a lofted ball from Jamie Lyden as Bankies held on for another win.
REACTION: Bankies striker Ciaran Lafferty speaks after scoring on his debut in tonight's 3-1 win over Maryhill. #bankies pic.twitter.com/bef0Zl9rym
— Clydebank FC (@clydebankfc) August 9, 2017
The result means Bankies sit second, behind Glasgow Pethshire on goal difference, ahead of Saturday’s game at home to Ashfield. Kick off at Holm Park is 2pm.
