ALAN Vezza scored a late winner against Ashfield as Clydebank finished top of their group to progress to the quarter-final of the Sectional League Cup, writes David Brockett.

The skipper stabbed home from a Peter McGill corner four minutes from time as Bankies set up a last-eight tie against Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.

Manager Budgie McGhie made two changes to the side that beat Maryhill, with Robert Tiropoulos and Cammy Haddow replacing Josh Lumsden and Joel Kasubandi.

Bankies chose to stick with their 3-5-2 formation, and it was defender Jamie Darroch who almost opened the scoring.

From a corner on the right, Darroch’s acrobatic bicycle kick was cleared off the line as the Bankies looked to make an early breakthrough.

Then, good movement from Mark Burbidge saw him weave his way into the Ashfield box, but his right-footed effort cannoned off the post and was cleared to safety.

Tiropoulos had little to do in a disappointing first half with only one save of note – tipping Paul Mallon’s shot over the bar.

After the restart, Bankies were forced into an early substitution. Jamie Lyden replaced the injured Andy Paterson, with Lyden making a vital standing interception just moments after entering the action.

With word of Yoker’s lead against Maryhill reaching Saracen Park, Bankies knew they too had to score to finish top.

Great link-up play down the right between McGill and Burbidge saw the latter slip the ball to Kasubandi, but the striker delayed his shot and Craig Murphy closed him down.

Making room at the edge of the area, Nicky Little turned his man before unleashing a goalbound effort, only for Martin Storey in the Ashfield goal to produce a wonder-save, tipping the ball on to the crossbar.

With less than five minutes remaining, the Bankies did finally make the breakthrough.

McGill’s corner found its way to Vezza, with the captain stabbing the ball through Alex Donnelly’s legs and past the keeper.

An Ashfield corner gave Clydebank a late fright, but it was cleared well by Calum Gow.

Clydebank play Kirkintilloch Rob Roy tonight in the quarter-final at Guys Meadow, kick-off is at 6.30pm.

Clydebank: Tiropoulos, Darroch, Paterson (Lyden 49), Vezza, Gow, Haddow (McGill 63), Burbidge, Frizzell, Young (Kasubandi 55), Little, Shelvey.