Clyde v Hamilton Academical

The efforts to acquire and lay pitch protection were happily rewarded with not only the game going ahead but a last-minute winner as well. Accies will feel aggrieved at the result as for much of the game Halliwell was the busier keeper but Clyde hung on and were rewarded with Potter’s late strike.

Following the poor display at New Broomfield, the only changes were Walker and Wilford started in place of Bryson and Conway.

Accies started the sharper but Clyde gained a foothold for a spell and looked to exert some pressure. Sadly as has been happening for a while, the team couldn’t retain possession and gave the ball away all too readily. Wilford (pictured trying to turn the Accies’ defence) was getting no help from the referee as he took a buffeting throughout the game and the result was the ball not being held up for others to join in.

Accies began to cause problems and eventually scored with a well-executed goal. They broke down Clyde’s left and when the ball was swept into the box Tunbridge was there to slot the ball into the corner. Clyde’s response was swift and Sheridan soon brought Clyde on level terms. Walker’s run and cross down the right was cleared to the edge of the box where Sheridan controlled it on his chest and then fired a volley into the corner of the net. Minutes later Sheridan turned provider and set up Harty in the box but the keeper managed to smother the ball at Harty’s feet.

The second period saw Clyde persist with the same eleven and unhappily the same style of play. Accies began to stretch Clyde with the midfield looking out of shape and unable to pick up the loose ball. Wilson, who’d been booked again, received yet another blow on his nose and this heralded a return to action for veteran defender/coach Stuart Balmer in the sixty-fourth minute. Three minutes later Gibson was replaced by Bryson to give Clyde some fresh legs in the middle.

Still most of the play was heading towards Halliwell as Conway replaced Wilford. Only a glancing header from Mensing proved any threat to the Accies goal. With Clyde happy to settle for a point the game turned in injury time. Bryson picked up a loose ball in midfield but was crudely chopped down just inside the Accies half. The big men went into the box and when Bollan fired the ball into the box, the ball broke to the strangely unmarked Potter who was able to turn and strike the ball into the corner of the net for an unlikely winner.

The game only had time to restart before the referee blew for full time.

A very exciting finish painted over the cracks of another under-par performance in the midfield. Individually the personnel are good, but Sheridan apart, there is not much being produced in terms of chances for Harty or Wilford. Clyde don’t have flying full-backs like other teams either and struggle to get in behind teams – but still the results keep coming. We’re never happy are we?

Clyde Star Ratings (*****)
Halliwell ***** Confidence personified.
Mensing *** Defensively good but distribution was poor.
Bollan *** Same as Mensing.
Wilson *** Not quite his usual self but still up to the task.
Potter ***** At the top of his game.
Sheridan *** Scored but struggled at times in midfield.
Gilhaney ** Effort but no end product.
Gibson ** Still spending more time winning headers rather than spraying passes.
Wilford ** Better but still a long way to go.
Walker *** Some good skills but needs some more conviction.
Harty *** Still game but must be getting frustrated.

Balmer *** Held things tight when required.
Bryson ** Found it hard to make an impact.
Conway ** Little time to do anything.