Alloa Athletic v Clyde

Recap

A fine day at the foot of the Ochil hills was enhanced by another Clyde win over a rather tame Alloa. Given the team from the wee county were fighting for their lives there was little evidence of this until the last 15 minutes of the game. Unlike the Alloa that visited Broadwood a few weeks ago this was the Alloa of old. The overriding philosophy is of not conceding and hoping to snatch a goal. For a while it went to plan, but Clyde had too much for Alloa and controlled most of the game.

Clyde stuck with the 3-4-3 of recent times and introduced youngsters Doyle, Reid and Baird onto the bench. The midfield began with Shields and Cosgrove on the flanks with Ross and Fraser patrolling the middle. Up front Keogh was feeding McConalogue and Gilhaney. Everybody expected Alloa to set off like a rocket but it never happened and Clyde looked comfortable without really threatening the Alloa goal (a bit like Scotland the other night). Halliwell was tested after a few minutes and turned a shot around the post. At the other end McConalogue saw his shot tipped over by U-21 keeper, Soutar. Cosgrove also strode forward and saw his long distance effort well saved by the Scotland man. Then as seems fated against Alloa, Clyde conceded a goal on the break midway through the half. Hamilton breezed past the Clyde defence and slid the ball under Halliwell. Kernaghan and Halliwell again conducted their inquest for all to hear within a 5 mile radius of the ground. Clyde didn’t take long to respond as within a few minutes McConalogue saw his shot from the edge of the box deflected past Soutar and into the corner of the net. McConalogue then went on to have several other good attempts at goal before the half was over. Jack Ross had time to line up a shot from 30 yards but was unlucky to see it smack off the post.

As the second half began everybody was expecting Alloa to go for it. Again they showed a distinct lack of ambition and Clyde controlled the game with McConalogue and Gilhaney prominent in the attack. Tactically Ross moved back to a more familiar wide right role and Shields switched to wide left. Both Fraser and Cosgrove were making great supporting runs up the middle but the Clyde forwards always seemed reluctant to release them on goal. Alloa were relying on the hopeful long ball and it came as no surprise when Keogh gave Clyde the lead. He drifted in behind the Alloa defence and reached the ball before the keeper. He still had to turn and shoot but that was no problem to the big man. McConalogue should have sealed the game but when he was played in he blazed the ball over from about 16 yards. Gilhaney had another chance on the break but was thwarted by a great saving tackle. Alloa finally decided to give it a go with 15 minutes remaining. They brought on 2 forwards and pushed Clyde back. Halliwell then produced the sort of save that usually happens when you’re fighting for survival at the foot of the table. Following a corner the ball broke in the box and Halliwell produced a tremendous one-handed save to keep Clyde in the lead and give Alloa a real sickener. Alloa had a few more corners in the dying minutes but the defence held firm and Clyde recorded their third win on the spin.

Clyde could have played this fixture in an end-of-season style without much gusto, but instead they had enough method and motivation to dismiss a team that is fighting for survival at the bottom. The 3-4-3 formation seems to work quite well and the appetite of Gilhaney is to be admired. Cosgrove is also trying to prove to the management that he’s worth retaining too which is good to see. It was a shame none of the youngsters on the bench got a game but their time will come.

STAR RATINGS (*****)

Halliwell **** What we’ve come to expect from the big keeper.
Potter *** Effective without being outstanding.
Mensing **** Back to his best with some great runs up the middle.
Kernaghan **** A stroll and he must be thinking about playing next season.
Fraser *** Great energy from the midfielder.
Ross *** Steady game with great supporting runs all through the game.
Shields *** Another good game in an unfamiliar role.
Cosgrove **** Looks like he’s trying to prove a point at the moment.
Keogh *** Getting there and yet another goal will help.
McConalogue *** Showing what he should have been doing 6 months ago.
Gilhaney **** Excellent work rate and appetite from the rising star.