Millennium Champions: Gr-eight recovery

Last updated : 07 March 2010 By Stuart Gillespie

In the process, we gave our goal difference a real boost and put ourselves back at the top of the first division. It was the perfect response to what had happened seven days earlier.

Our hopes of beating Clydebank were boosted when they finally took their first win of season during the week but lost keeper Colin Scott in the process. With no other keeper signed, they played some trialist called Ben Plevey. He looked good when he saved an early shot, but it quickly emerged he was bobbins. Before that, we suffered a blow when Junior Mendes got injured and had to be replaced by Barry Lavety - without a goal in nearly three months.

Any fear Clydebank may have unearthed a gem disappeared after nine minutes when Stephen McGarry scored a trademark goal after nine minutes, running alongside a throw in before whacking it into the top corner. Basher ended his drought 10 minutes later when he forced the goal over the line from a corner, before Ian Ross made it three before half time.

Rossco's previous goals had come in 5-0 and 6-0 drubbings, so his strike raised hopes of another big win - and the players didn't disappoint. Hugh Murray got the game's best goal when he juggled the ball on his head before volleying past Plevey - later admitting he only did it as the ball was stuck in his hair gel! McGarry set up Basher for his second, before Shuggy got his own double with a header as Plevey continued his poor performance. That's six for us if you've lost count.

Scott Walker made it seven from a corner, before Basher completed his first ever career hat-trick with 20 minutes left. Five goals had come in 20 minutes thanks to the comedy of Plevey, with even his kicking poor, but surprisingly that was the end of the scoring.

Not to worry. We'd reminded the doubters we were still in the fight and we'd recorded our biggest win in nearly 40 years. Sadly, the guy doing the classifieds on the radio afterwards decided it was only 0-0! It was the only blip on a wonderful day and perfect preparation for a double header at Cappielow.

Oh, and if you're wondering, no, Clydebank didn't sign Ben Plevey permanently!