KID TEALE TORMENTS McLEISH

ALL week Clydebank boss Ian McCall has been pleading with Bankies fans to come and support the team or they will fold.

Yesterday McCall's troops gave supporters two further reasons for watching them - neat football and a never-say-die attitude.

Most of the neat stuff came from young starlet Gary Teale who tormented and teased the experienced Easter Road defence all afternoon.

Tipped for stardom before seeming to disappear over the last couple of seasons, Teale came back with a bang as he scored one and crossed for Clydebank's injury-time equaliser.

Hibs struggled to come to terms with playing at Boghead in front of only 1,803 fans in the first half and could twice have gone behind.

First Teale teased and left David Elliot for dead before crossing to Paul Lovering to nod for goal four yards out but keeper Olli Gottskalksson got his body in the way.

Then just before half-time Teale picked up a throw-in on the right and hit a first-time cross for Scott Miller to meet but Gottskalksson tipped the ball just over.

Hibs boss Alex McLeish reacted at half-time with Kevin Harper coming on for the ineffective Paul Tosh. McLeish had already replaced Justin Skinner with Paul Holsgrove.

Harper quickly made his mark. Pat McGinlay hit a right-foot shot that bobbled across the goalmouth where the waiting Harper slammed it into the net.

Hibs nearly turned the game round totally afterwards with a John Hughes header but it just cleared Scott's bar.

Clydebank deservedly equalised in the 73rd minute when sub Craig Taggart crossed from the left and Tom Smith ran in behind a static Hibs defence to beat the offside trap.

Smith controlled the ball and went round Gottskalksson but just as he was about to net Smith slipped and team-mate Teale ran in to complete the job.

It looked like ending one apiece until a bizarre final couple of minutes.

First Hibs were awarded an 89th minute corner in controversial circumstances.

McGinlay had appeared to use a hand before firing in a shot that was deflected wide.

Harper's corner bounced about the Clydebank box before landing at the feet of Steve Crawford who lashed home a low shot from 15 yards.

It looked as if Hibs had done enough to grab what would have been an undeserved three points in their quest for promotion.

Bankies however wanted to show their mettle and broke up the park from the kick-off and Gottskalksson had to dive low to knock away a fierce 20-yard drive from Taggart for a corner.

Teale took the flag kick and veteran defender Kenny Brannigan rose above everyone to head home from six yards.

Clydebank fans rejoiced and surely what they had seen will be enough to answer McCall's shouts for more support.

Hibs on the other hand never looked like a side who were certainties for promotion and they will have to learn to match the battling qualities of their First Division opponents.

Bookings were dished out to Clydebank's Smith and Taggart as well as Guggi and McGinlay of Hibs.

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