Clyde v Albion Rovers

Recap

The Bully Wee moved to within three points of Ladbrokes League 2 leaders Edinburgh City this afternoon, following a 1-0 victory over Albion Rovers at Broadwood.

Danny Lennon shuffled his pack and made three changes, with Dylan Cogill and Kevin Nicoll returning to the starting line-up, alongside debutant Declan Fitzpatrick.

Clyde, already missing David Goodwillie, Ally Love and Kristoffer Syvertsen through injury, were dealt another blow after 13 minutes, when captain Kevin Nicoll was stretchered off after landing awkwardly on his shoulder.

After a lengthy delay, play restarted with an Albion Rovers corner and the visitors almost took the lead, but Tom Lang headed the effort off the line.

The Bully Wee had a chance of their own following a good passing move, but Declan Fitzpatrick was unable to convert Barry Cuddihy’s cross, with his header going narrowly wide.

The deadlock was broken in the 23rd minute when Martin McNiff squared the ball to Fitzpatrick in the middle of the box. He then poked the ball out to substitute Mark Lamont, who fizzed a low shot across Peter Morrison and into the back of the net.

Morrison then made a fantastic double save to keep his side in it, first denying Jack Boyle and then showing good reflexes to save from Fitzpatrick’s rebound from close range.

Rovers came close to equalising when Gerard Hernando Escuriola outpaced the Clyde defence and tried to chip the onrushing Blair Currie, but the Bully Wee ‘keeper was able to stretch and get his hand on the ball.

Morrison pulled off another good save just before the interval from Dylan Cogill’s volley after a corner.

John Rankin, making his 600th senior career appearance, was next to try his luck. He got on the end of McNiff’s knock down, but Morrison held the midfielder’s shot from the edge of the area.

Lamont almost doubled his tally for the afternoon in spectacular fashion after winning the ball on the halfway line. Spotting Morrison off his line, he let rip with an audacious effort which landed on the roof of the net.

Danny Lennon introduced Scott Banks midway though the second half and the youngster troubled the visitors with his skill. He also created a little bit of history, becoming the first player born in the 21st century to play for The Bully Wee.

The Rovers could have taken a point in stoppage when the ball fell to George Newell in the box, but he dragged his effort wide of the post, as Clyde held on to stretch their unbeaten run to 13 games.