LEADERS Meadow dropped three points to bottom club Bankies, but can feel hard done by after being denied a stonewall penalty in the second half.

Bankies opened the scoring in four minutes when a mix-up in the centre of the park by Meadow’s midfield saw Clydebank sweep forward and the ball was laid off to the trialist striker, who netted with a shot across Graeme Shepherd into the net.

It took a fine save by Robert Hamilton two minutes later diving full length to prevent a Mark Thomson free kick from slipping in at the post.

Meadow kept probing away and Robert Hamilton was on hand to save a shot from Chris Hall after 15 minutes.

Five minutes later Gary McCann made space and laid the ball off to Chris Hall in the centre of the goal but with only the keeper to beat he elected to pass to Ryan Deas but he shot into the side netting.

This miss was to prove costly Clydebank doubling their lead on the half hour, Derek Carcary netting from the penalty spot.

Three minutes from half-time Mark Staunton was given a yellow card for a foul which was to prove costly as four minutes after the interval he received a second caution and was ordered off.

Six minutes later Gary McCann was sent clear in the penalty area and was pulled down by a defender for what was a clear penalty. However, the referee and his assistant thought otherwise and waved play on.

Mayhem broke out after this and ended with McCann being booked for remarks to the assistant.

Meadow did pull a goal back five minutes later when a long ball sent Chris Hall clear and he lobbed it over the advancing Robert Hamilton.

Wllie Sawyers was introduced after 70 minutes and with his first effort beat Robert Hamilton but his effort missed the target.

With Meadow throwing players forward looking for an equaliser gaps were left at the back and it took a good save from Shepherd, turning an effort from the trialist for a corner to keep the scoreline down.

Five minutes from the end, Shepherd denied substitute Sean Stewart with another fine save.

Right on time Clydebank’s trialist sent a shot against the bar as Meadow’s poor run continued after such a fine start to the season.

IRVINE MEADOW: Shepherd; Evans, Sideserf, Twaddle, Murch, G. McCann, Thomson, Hall, Deas, Halliday.

Subs: Sawyer, McParland, S McCann and Thompson.