Plevey suffers being hit for eight

I suppose it was inevitable, that after having won their first league match of the season just a few days earlier that Clydebank would lose their next game.

However, even their most fervent supporter must have been surprised at the way they were clinically dismantled by a St

Mirren side who could do no wrong at Love Street on Saturday.

It had been almost 40 years since the Saints last scored eight goals in a competitive game - an 8-0 victory over Third Lanark in a Scottish Cup tie in 1961 - although they had also defeated Hamilton Accies 8-3 in a friendly match in 1979.

However, as manager Tom Hendrie admitted those eight counters could be vital at the end of the season because as well as regaining the lead in the race for the first division title - they now lead Dunfermline by two points with the same number of matches played - they also have an eight-goal cushion over their nearest rivals.

You had to feel sorry for keeper Ben Plevey. The former RAF physical training instructor, who was once on the books of Aston Villa, only met his team-mates 90 minutes before the kick-off after signing a one-match deal with the Bankies, but despite losing so many goals, only one was directly attributable to him.

Saints were 3-0 up at the interval though strikes from Steven McGarry, Barry Lavety, and Ian Ross. Lavety added another two after the break, and Hugh Murray getting in on the act with a double - his first a goal to grace any game - with Scott Walker also putting his name on the scoresheet.

The only surprise was that Saints did not go on to reach double figures as their eighth goal came after only 70 minutes, but Hendrie was not complaining about that.

He said: ''I said we needed an early goal to take the pressure off us and that is they way it worked out. All the nerves and apprehension we had before the game disappeared after that and we just went on from there.

''I think the surface also helped us because the pitch was a lot firmer than it has been recently and the overhead conditions were better and that allowed us to play our natural game.

''I suppose you could say that we won four points because the eight goals is almost as good as an extra point to us if things should come down to goal difference.

''I was especially pleased at Barry Lavety scoring three goals because he only came on as a substitute after Junior Mendes injured his back early in the game.

''We have worked hard at set pieces in training and we scored three of the eight goals from dead-ball situations, so that was a pleasing aspect for me.

''I also think that as the weather improves and the pitches get

better that will suit us probably more than any other team in the league.

''Before the match, I would have settled for a 1-0 victory because the most important thing for us was to get back to the top of the table and we did that. The fact that we scored eight goals is a major bonus.''

Bankies manager Stevie Morrison has now enjoyed the highs and the lows of football within the space of a few days. He said: ''One minute you are up in the clouds and you are down the next.

''There may have been a reaction to Tuesday night's game because the relief at finally winning was so great. I hope that was just a one-off.''

Last word must go to Plevey, who said: ''To make your debut and lose 8-0 is just a nightmare.

''The last time I lost so many goals was 11 years ago when I was a 13-year-old playing for Four Oaks Boys Club in Birmingham. I hope it is at least another 11 before I lose so many again.''