Clyde v Airdrie United

Recap

The home team continued their rich vein of form with an excellent win under very unusual circumstances. The only change, from Saturday’s victory over Dundee, saw Marvyn Wilson come onto the bench in place of Scott Gemmill.

The less said about the first 45 minutes of football the better. Aside from dangerous deliveries from McLaren of Clyde and Brown of Airdrie that deserved better, the football was atrocious. Lynch of Airdrie did hit the bar with an inventive turn and shot, and McLaren would also hit the bar with what looked like a cross, although with McLaren’s ability and growing self belief, it wouldn’t surprise me, if it was indeed a shot. The midfield of Clyde had clearly toiled and it came as little surprise that Brown and Waddell made way for Trouten and MacLennan.

Then the fun began. MacLennan saw himself sent off for a reckless and dangerous lunge at Donnelly. Given the referee had not shown any cards during the first half when he could have – a straight red looked harsh at the time. McLaren and Smyth found themselves in the book soon after as a result of a 20 man melee after the dangerous challenge.

For whatever reason, this seemed to galvanise Clyde, and with Trouten intelligently finding space and Emslie driving from midfield, the ball started to stay on the deck and the team started to press forward despite the numerical disadvantage.

Trouten came closest first after a neat knock down by McKay, but blasted over. Then Pat Clarke engineered a good chance for himself but also blazed over.

It was all Clyde at this point, and it came as no surprise to all witnessing the second half revival, that Clyde took the lead. After good wing play from McKay and Lowing, the ball was only partially cleared by Donnelly. Trouten picked the ball up 20 yards out, feint to shoot before going past three static Airdrie defenders, into the box to fire home from 16 yards. A very good goal, showing the intelligence Trouten possesses.

Although Clyde may have been sitting deeper since the sending off, they were breaking with pace at will, and had several counter attacks, almost resulting in a goal. None more so than when McLaren floated a delightful ball to the back post, and when Robertson came and missed the ball, Clarke somehow managed to hit the post from no more than two yards out.

The same player shot straight at Robertson while well placed as Clyde continued to press for a killer second. The only thing Airdrie could muster was as a result of a Hutton fumble, but the keeper got back to block Noble’s effort before the ball was cleared to safety.

After what seemed like an age the referee blew the full-time whistle, and Clyde won their fourth game in a row without conceding. The football in the second half was as good as it was bad in the first, but the emergence of grit and determination is pleasing, and with the added and undoubted ability of McLaren and Trouten, there’s no reason why the run cannot continue.