YOKER and Clydebank shared the spoils as the second Holm Park derby of the season ended in a goalless draw.
Clydebank, who were looking to make up ground on league leaders Largs, gave a debut to new signing Jamie Lyden while Stevie Young continued as the long striker.
Bankies started on the front foot and had the first real clear cut chance of the game. Tricky footwork from Ryan Holms saw him lay the ball off to overlapping fullback Andy Paterson who fed Young, but former Bankies stopper Liam Campbell comfortably held the resulting shot.
After Rab O’Neill’s back heel, there were strong claims for a penalty when Shaun Kelly appeared to tackle debutant Lyden from behind but Colin McDonald waved away the vociferous protests from the crowd.
On a heavy Holm Park pitch which passed two inspections, there were several robust challenges befitting of a local derby. First, Andy Rankin got the ball up and over the four man Bankies wall, but Josh Lumsden was equal to it. Then O’Neill – who scored a free kick in the first derby of the season – skewed his effort over the bar.
Bankies continued to press and could’ve opened the scoring just after the break. Young’s cross from the left found Mark Burbidge, whose deft flick was straight into the hands of Campbell.
Burbidge was again involved when his corner from the left was met by the head of Alan Vezza, but his glancing header was cleared off the line by the retreating Whe Ho defender.
Midway through the second half, Yoker’s best chance of the match came from a free flowing counter attack. Good link up play down the right channel between Michael Bailey and Rankin saw the latter released, but his final effort was tame as Lumsden gathered.
With ten minutes remaining, Clydebank missed their only real chance of the game. The ball broke to Burbidge at the edge of the area, who controlled it before firing a shot towards goal, with outstretched boot of Young sending the ball crashing off the underside of the bar and away to safety.
Clydebank: Lumsden, MacKinnon, Paterson (Cole 75), Vezza, O’Neill, Lyden, Burbidge, Mort, Young, Little (Kasubandi 68), Holms
Next up for Clydebank is the rearranged West of Scotland Cup tie at home to Whitletts Victoria. Kick off at Holm Park next Saturday is 1:45pm.
