Clyde v Dundee

Recap

Clyde were looking to bounce back from the disastrous midweek cup defeat by Gretna, but had to do so without the suspended Williams and the injured McGregor and Masterton. In came Boudaji, McDonald and Hunter.

The game had barely started when Clyde got off to the worst possible start. After Boudaji had knocked a cross behind for a corner, Grady swung the ball in to find the diminutive figure of Tam McManus in space 6 yards out to bullet a header past Jarvie. For one of the smallest players on the park to get a near free header so early in the game, was alarming to say the least.

The same player was looking lively up front for the dark blues, and threatened the Clyde goal on 9 minutes with a shot that went wide.

Although behind, Clyde were enjoying a fair amount of possession and a lot of space, especially McGowan on the right wing. The Northern Ireland Internationalist linked well with Bryson and Clyde were awarded their first corner on 12 minutes.

The now trademark Clyde corner saw Malone expertly drill the ball near post, Higgins superbly flicked it on, and Brighton took Williams place to meet the ball a yard out and header home, much to his delight.

As the match wore on, McGowan was being overlooked when in acres of space, and too frequently, moves were breaking down, when he was always an ideal outball.

As possession was surrendered Dundee started to push forward more and more, and McManus again threatened with a neat shot on the turn that Jarvie gathered gratefully.

Jarvie then played the ball upfield, and the ball was gathered with ease by the Dundee defence, however ex Clyde man Stuart McLuskey was wasteful in possession and fed the ball straight to Bryson on the halfway line. As the youngster broke forward he fed Hunter, who had the vision, so many had lacked and showed some neat skills to release McGowan. The full back drove into the space in front of him and fired a wicked low cross beyond Kelvin Jack and across goal, only for the unfortunate Calum McDonald to turn the ball into his own net. In fairness the quality of ball provided, made it almost impossible for the youngster to do anything else.

Such was Clyde’s defence frailty that the lead only lasted 4 minutes. After a deep cross had been headed back into the danger by Malone, another ex Clyde man in Colin Marshall produced an excellent finish from 14 yards to pull his side level.

In what was hardly a dirty game, McDonald of Clyde and Mann of Dundee found themselves in Mr McCurry’s notebook, somewhat unfortunately. Clyde threatened through shots from McDonald and O’Donnell, but the score would remain 2-2 at the break.

Harsh words presumably at half time over the defending, seemed to be ignored, when only two minutes after the restart, Dundee lead again. A Long throw was won in the air, in the box, by Mann and McManus appeared again to be unmarked, and produced a smart snap-shot to beat Jarvie again.

On 52 minutes, Roberts decided to freshen things up and put Harris and Imrie on for the toiling Boudaji and Hunter. Clyde immediately looked more secure at the back and more threatening up front.

The game should have been ended however on 66 minutes, when McManus had a golden chance for a hat-trick, but with possibly his easiest chance of the game, he struck the post, to let Clyde off the hook. 4 minutes later, Roberts made his last throw of the dice, by replacing Bryson with McHale.

Kelvin Jack in the Dundee goal, was then very fortunate only to concede a corner, when attempting a clearance, he took his eye off the ball and wildly sliced his clearance just past the post. He then got injured, when Brighton fouled him when the big keeper was attempting to shield the ball out for a goal kick.

The manager’s decision to put McHale on proved priceless on 72 minutes, when the midfielder, decided to let fly from 25 yards. His curling effort was well placed, but surely would have been saved by a fully fit keeper, and all Jack could do was meekly palm the ball on its way into the net. However the goal was deserved and just reward for the skipper, only just returning to full fitness.

Malone, Brighton, Imrie and McHale were now posing all sorts of problems, so much so that Dundee reverted to 5 at the back, and substituted the injured keeper. A neat move with 12 minutes to go saw the ball end with Kevin McDonald blasting his effort over the bar from 12 yards, and despite their improved second half performance, the teams inability to put a continuous string of passes together, meant the score remained 3-3.

Never a dull game, and allowed to flow by a fairly relaxed referee, Clyde were good in patches, despite not being at their best in terms of passing, and decidedly dodgy at the back before the introduction of young Harris.

Jarvie *** Despite not actually doing that much, was not effective enough in marshalling his defence.
Boudaji ** Distribution always a problem, and drawn put of position too easily.
Malone *** Steady Eddie, one of the better performers.
Higgins *** another who’s distribution was questionable, but stuck to his task well.
McKeown **** Despite the teams poor defending, had a great game. A good honest centre half.
McDonald ** Perhaps realising that Spl reserves affords much more time than 1st division. Has qualities, needs to adapt and know when to use them.
Bryson *** Energetic as always, with no little skill. Surprisingly subbed.
O’Donnell ** Struggling for form at the moment.
Hunter ** Set McGowan up well, but too lightweight against big burly defenders.
Brighton *** Took goal well, but never ran at defenders like he can.
McGowan ** Strange. Largely ignored 1st half despite his involvement in 2nd goal, but very wasteful in possession in the second half.

Harris (52 mins) *** Can be very pleased with his performance, and steadied defence well.
Imrie (52 mins) *** Another who performed well in the time given, linked well with Bryson and showed pace, skill and determination to drive his team forward.
McHale (70 mins) *** Supersub, showed in 20 minutes what team has been missing without him. Calm and rarely wasted possession. All-important 3rd goal.