FAMINE OVER
It was Forrest's first goal since November 29, when he scored at Kilmarnock. Clydebank moved the ball well at times but Bobby Clark was not called upon to make a save in the first ten minutes, and he still hadn't handled the ball one minute later when the visitors equalised! It was a quiet affair but the Dons' defence were caught off balance. O'Brien made ground on the left and when he side-footed the ball into the middle, inside left TOMMY McGHEE, standing in splendid isolation, had no problem in sending into the net. The Dons were back in square one. Both teams found it difficult to control the ball on the frozen ground although sand had been sprinkled liberally on the surface.
CLARK TO THE RESCUE
Clydebank almost snatched the lead when O'Brien, anticipating a Kirkland attempt to head the ball back to Clark, raced ahead and must have been disappointed to see his lob strike the advancing Clark. Clydebank were taking a more active share of the attacking and in 25 minutes only a fine save by Clark prevented a Caskie shot lodging in the Aberdeen net after an O'Brien free kick. Aberdeen had still to get control, but they made a move in the right direction by regaining the lead in 32 minutes. It was Forrest who created the opening. He raced 35 yards up the right, outpaced the left back Gray and cut the ball back for DAVE ROBB to side foot it into the net from close range. The traffic continued towards McDonald's goal and all the Dons needed to clinch their passage into round three was another goal. But the young Clydebank players were full of running and as expected most of the danger stemmed from O'Brien and Caskie. The visiting defence looked vulnerable under pressure, particularly through the middle, but the Dons failed to add to their total before the interval.
FINE SAVE
In the second minute of injury time McDonald made another fine save when Forrest first-timed a Hamilton cross. Hamilton almost got the all-important third goal in the opening stages of the second half with a clever interception and an accurate drive but McDonald was equal to the call. The Dons came again and Murray made ground on the right and crossed for Harper to volley the cross over the Clydebank crossbar. Aberdeen were overdue to take the game by the scruff of the neck and shake off the Second Division challenge. Two corners on the left for the Dons produced nothing tangible.
FROZEN GROUND
The frozen ground produced an additional gamble and the Dons, with more at stake, were obviously more worried by the conditions than the New Kilbowie Park side. McDonald had to look lively to collect a Harper header from a Willoughby corner. Clydebank, however, were not content to accept a passive role and several raids had the home defence worried. The fact of the matter was that Clydebank looked as likely to equalise as the Dons did to get the elusive deciding goal. Even allowing for the dicey conditions, Aberdeen were far from convincing. There were times when it was difficult to decide which was the First Division side. With 10 minutes to go Clydebank substituted McMillan for McGhee. Such was the frustration of the Aberdeen crowd that they started to cheer when the visitors went on the attack.
DESPERATE
In a desperate bid to ensure victory Aberdeen attacked desperately, and on one occasion Harper, sitting on the ground, hooked the ball past the far post. In the dying minutes it was Clydebank who carried the greater threat, and Aberdeen players and official must have been happy to hear the sound of the final whistle.
This match led to the Dons playing in an unusual strip as the referee insisted that the Clydebank strip with red diagonal "sash" would clash with Aberdeen's all red. For some reason the Aberdeen change strip was unsuitable so a set of kit was borrowed from a local junior club (possibly Lewis United thanks to Teddy Scott's contacts) - the shirt design being blue and white vertical stripes.
The press were critical of the referee for imposing this change, particulary as he went on to permit Bobby Clark to wear a black jersey which was in breach of SFA rules as it was not on the list of allowed colours for goalkeepers.
The local paper said: Black Mark Against Colour-conscious Ref!
Referee Wilson decided last night that the colours of the Pittodrie teams clashed. As a result Clydebank turned out in their registered colours of white with a red diagonal stripe, and black pants, while the Dons played in blue and white vertical stripes. The man in the middle didn't follow the SFA competition rules about goalkeepers, however, and he allowed Bobby Clark to wear a black jersey, although Rule 11 is quite explicit - goalkeepers shall wear a deep yellow, scarlet or emerald green jersey or sweater.
Source: Press & Journal, 12th February 1970HALF TIME 2-1
Forrest and Hamilton both almost scored but McDonald saved well. Then George Murray crossed for Joe Harper to volley over. Next came two fruitless corners as Aberdeen pressed on the accelerator. The dropping temperature was making the pitch even more hazardous and this factor was upsetting the Dons and their fans who were by now voicing their discontent.Source: Match Programme, 6th March 1993