With the early stages of the game confined primarily to the midfield it wasn't until almost 12 minutes had passed before either goal was threatened, Craig Spence seeing his header from a Darren Malloy cross held by the visiting 'keeper. Three minutes later the Bankies raised the spirits of their large travelling support when a deep cross from the left was hitch-kicked just past the upright from eight yards out before Malloy again found some space to curl in a cross that Stevie Whiteford controlled and then clipped in a shot that was well stopped. Derek Drummond then speared a pass in front of the galloping Mark Campbell out on the right but when the striker carried the ball into the box his right foot shot was saved comfortably by Meghian. At the other end a clever pass out to the right found a Clydebank man moving into the box from a suspiciously offside position and as he tried to cut inside Brian Smillie the sweeper tripped him and from the resultant penalty HARKINS only just squeezed the ball past Derek Stewart who got fingers to it but couldn't quite keep it out. From another right wing attack Stewart then had to move quickly off his line to close out any threat. Two minutes from the break Campbell worked a little space on the United left and was fouled trying to go beyond his man and when Brian Savage's free-kick found it's way to the back post SMILLIE smacked his header home for the equaliser. Right on the stroke of half time though the men from Clydebank almost restored their lead when Stanley thundered his shot against the face of the bar before the ball was hurried clear.
Opening the second half in the ascendency United crafted an early chance when the impressive Drummond fed Campbell who laid off a pass to Whiteford and when the ball was spun back into Campbell's path his shot was clawed away. Spence then whipped in a good delivery that flew across the face of goal only just eluding the diving Campbell before Drummond volleyed over a Savage corner. However, a minute later Smillie was short with a pass back and Stewart had to be alert and brave to block at the feet of Maxwell before a right wing free-kick again had Stewart busy, the big 'keeper gratefully ushering Prior's header past. Two Savage corners then produced two near things, the first seeing a Whiteford header cleared off the line and the second seeing Whiteford head down for Smyth but the big defenders parting shot flew way too high. Going into the final ten minutes the elusive Spence outstripped his marker to rifle in a cross that was blocked by the hands of a sliding defender but the loud penalty claims were ignored by the unsighted referee to send the tie to an intriguing replay.
Line Up: Stewart, Boyd, Malloy, Smillie, Smyth, Spence, Savage, Drummond, McCardie (Docherty 81), Campbell (Laurie 85), Whiteford Subs (not used): Heeps, Duncan, Fowler
