CLYDEBANK conceded a last minute penalty as ten man Bankies’ hopes of automatic promotion dwindled further with a 1-0 defeat to Irvine Meadow on Saturday.
Captain Phil Barclay was shown a straight red card midway through the second half as Ben Carson scored from the spot after the ball struck the arm of Andy Paterson.
Bankies boss Kieran McAnespie made four changes to the side that lost to Rutherglen, naming himself in the starting eleven alongside Calum Gow, Stevie Young and Alan Frizzell as Alan Vezza, Robbie Halliday, Joel Kasubandi and Nicky Little dropped to the bench.
That meant a return to a 4-4-2 formation, with Frizzell and Young leading the line as Gow made his first start since the 4-1 defeat to Kilsyth Rangers last December.
McAnespie, starting in central midfield, helped create Bankies first chance of the game. His corner was met by the head of the towering Jamie Lyden, but the defender’s thumping header was well wide of the target.
On the half hour mark, Meadow should’ve opened the scoring. Jaret Willit found Ben Black unmarked at the back post, but Lumsden was equal to his well struck effort.
The pair combined again moments later when the former slipped the ball through to the latter, but Black’s shot flew narrowly wide of Lumsden’s right hand post.
Player manager McAnespie had the first effort of the second half, too – forcing Meadow stopper Newman into action to tip his rasping drive over the bar.
In a fairly quiet second half, Lumsden was called into action midway through the second period, racing out well to block Willet’s shot as the striker raced through one on one with the young goalkeeper.
Five minutes later, Bankies were reduced to ten men after Barclay picked up his fourth red card in 50 matches for the club after scything down Meadow midfielder Stuart Hannah in the middle of the park.
And as the clock struck ninety, Graham Muir’s cross from the right struck the arm of Andy Paterson, with referee Jordan Paterson pointing straight to the spot. Ben Carson stepped up and sent Lumsden the wrong way as the visitors left Holm Park with all three points.
