Hibs 3-1 Clyde, March 23, 1966

Published on 22/03/2011 14:17

Hibs continued to win points the hard way although this success at Easter Road made their record 11 points from six games, and they stood in with a fair chance of finishing fourth in the League.

Home and away matches against Dundee United were vital, and Tannadice officials obviously thought likewise as manager Jerry Kerr and trainer Andy Dickson were among the 4,500 spectators.

They moved to sixth in the league yet no-one would suggest that this triumph was an impressive one. Hibs began superbly with a goal inside the first two minutes from Colin Stein and ended on an even brighter note with a brilliant solo goal by Jimmy O'Rourke a minute before the end.

The game generally lacked quality throughout and Clyde, handicapped by an injury to inside-left Ian Stewart after only three minutes, never looked like troubling Hibs, whose inaccurate passing made their job much trickier than it should have been.

This wasn't the same Clyde side which hit Dunfermline for six and their forwards were below par on the few occasions they threatened to pierce the home defence.

Hibs' wingers might have taken their cue from non-stop Stein whose restless running earned him a goal, his fourth in six days and the wholehearted support of the fans. Stein was always on the move trying to upset the Bully Wee defence, while Jim Scott and Eric Stevenson were quite lethargic and were seldom in the picture.

Scott, of course, was a far more gifted player in the middle and Stein's constant switching to the left touchline caused havoc. Peter Cormack released more accurate passes than most of his team-mates and left-half Jimmy Stevenson had a good come-back to the first team with a spirited display.

Hibs' opening goal was neatly worked and smartly taken.

A Pat Stanton pass found a gap and Stein lobbed the ball into the net as Clyde goalkeeper McCulloch moved raced out. But their second was delayed until 72 minutes had gone when Joe Davis scored from a penalty after Scott was fouled. Just a little earlier, There was a controversy when Clyde might have got a penalty of their own when Davis pushed Gilroy in the box but the referee waved away the protests.

However, Gilroy did snatch a goal back via his head after 83 minutes from a bouncing White pass to bring Clyde back into the game.

Their slender hopes of stealing a point were banished by O'Rourke who ran from the halfway line to shake off several opponents and smash a brilliant shot past the keeper.

Hibs: Allan; Duncan, Davis; Stanton, McNamee, J Stevenson; Scott, O'Rourke, Stein, Cormack, E Stevenson.

Clyde: McCulloch; Glasgow, Mulheron; McHugh, Fraser, White, Reid, Bryce, Gilroy, Stewart, Hastings.

Referee: M W Anderson, East Kilbride.