KIERAN McAnespie’s tenure in charge of Clydebank got off to a losing start as they were beaten 2-1 by Renfrew on Saturday.
Joel Kasubandi’s first half effort was cancelled out by strikes from Chris Zok and Sean Fitzharris as Renfew won their fifth consecutive game .
Manager McAnespie made just one change to the side that beat Irvine Vics last weekend, with Andy Paterson replacing Hashim Cole at left back.
Renfrew started the brighter side and could’ve broken the deadlock after four minutes when Paddy O’Keefe caught the ball on the half volley, but his effort flew wide of the post with Bankies stopper Josh Lumsden rooted to the spot.
But on seven minutes it was Clydebank who took the lead. Nicky Little flicked the ball into the path of Kasubandi, who swept the ball home first time beyond Frew keeper Dale Burgess to claim his fourth goal in three games.
Bankies looked to build on their lead and were presented with an opportunity to do just that after a driving run from Peter McGill was halted when the winger was scythed down on the edge of the area, but Andy Paterson’s free kick was gathered by Burgess.
Frew found their way back into the game and should’ve levelled midway though the half. Sean Fitzharris’s free kick was bloated into the box, with the unmarked O’Keefe heading over the bar.
On the half hour mark, the home side did grab the equaliser. At full stretch, Lumsden did well to push Zok’s initial header away, but the rebound fell to the experienced striker once again, who made no mistake in firing Frew level.
After the restart, Bankies should’ve levelled. A bursting run down the left saw Alan Frizzell drive at the Renfrew defence, turning his man but his shot flew high and wide.
Bankies weathered a storm for much of the second half and with less than fifteen minutes remaining, Frew grabbed the winner. Sean Fitzharris’s cross-cum-shot wasn’t cut out by the Bankies back line, with the ball somehow trundling past Lumsden at his far post.
In his last roll of the dice, McAnepie opted for a 4-4-2 approach with the double pronged attack of Kasubandi and substitute Stevie Young but it was to no avail as Bankies fell their first lost of the calendar year.
