Clyde v Livingston

Recap

After an encouraging point at East End Park the previous week, Clyde were looking for revenge against A Livingston side flying high after beating league leaders Hamilton.

The visitors’ confidence was clearly visible in the early stages, and only a deflection off Chris Higgins thwarted the dangerous Snodgrass from opening the scoring after McMenamin had capatilised on an uncharacteristic mistake from Craig McKeown. They wouldn’t have to wait long to take the lead however, and it was a goal of devastating pace and simplicity. Snodgrass would play a very neat one two with Pesir before racing clear of McGowan and sending over the most inviting cross for an unmarked Dorrans to powerfully head home for a deserved lead.

In one of the most impressive performances from any team at Broadwood this season, Livi almost grabbed another, but McMenamin’s touch was too heavy as he rounded Hutton and the chance was lost.

Clyde had not registered a shot in the first 40 minutes, such had been Livi’s quality in possession, but perhaps the visitor’s were content with just the one goal or Clyde recognised that they were indeed fortunate still to be in the game as half time approached as the suddenly came into the game as an attacking force.

First Mikey McGowan received a good ball out wide from his Div McGowan, cut inside, played a neat one two with McGowan once again, but his left footed shot rose just over.

3 minutes later and Clyde were level. After McGregor and McKeown stayed forward after a cleared corner, McGregor found Maclennan in acres of space in the penalty box. The youngster controlled the ball well on his chest, but his shot on the volley was weak, and deflected off of Kennedy straight to McKeown who superbly volleyed home from 15 yards.

In fact Clyde would be amazed they never went in at front at half time, when only an amazing instinctive save from Stewart prevented a point blank McGregor header from a Masterton corner.

Clyde would go on to dominate the second half, extremely surprising considering the superiority Livingston demonstrated for large periods of the first half.

Clyde’s first chance came when a long Smith ball, saw Stewart rush out to try and clear only to find MaClennan 25 yards out and the goal gaping. The youngster never looked comfortable with the chance and weakly shot wide.

Masterton would be next to test Stewart, when a well-taken free kick was well saved.

Clyde would get their just rewards with 15 minutes to go. Another Smith corner , whose deliveries were first class throughout, found flat mate McKeown once more, and although his header was blocked, fellow defender McGregor was on hand to blast the ball home from close range.

Clyde had one further chance to perhaps paint an unflattering picture in terms of the score line, when Arbuckle robbed a Livi defender and fed MacLennan, who elected to square the ball back to Arbuckle 7 yards out, but his left footed shot was again saved by Stewart and the game would finish 2-1 to Clyde.