Clyde v Montrose

Recap

Clyde’s 2016-17 Ladbrokes League 2 campaign got off to a winning start at Broadwood today, with two excellent goals helping to overcome a spirited Montrose side.

Barry Ferguson’s starting line-up included six players making their league debut for the club – McNeil, Lowdon, McNiff, Easton, Johnston and MacDonald – with the returning Michael Oliver also included in the team.

The Bully Wee started the match strongly and Ewan McNeil came close to scoring, when his swerving shot from distance forced Jordan Millar into an unorthodox save.

However, after that bright start the visitors then enjoyed a good spell and had two great chances to score. Montrose’s trialist defender brought out a superb save from John Gibson with a close range header, with Chris Templeman then just missing the target from inside the box when he looked odds on to score.

Back at the other end, Scott Linton tested Millar with good effort from outside the box, which the Montrose ‘keeper tipped over the bar.

After 25 minutes, Dylan Easton opened the scoring with a fantastic goal. The 22-year-old – who celebrated the birth of his son on Thursday – picked the ball up in midfield, created space for himself and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net from 25 yards out.

Clyde striker Peter MacDonald had two attempts on goal as half-time approached; firstly hitting the target with a direct free-kick and then turning sharply in the box, but Millar again denied him.

Ten minutes into the second half, The Gable Endies equalised when Templeman got away from Oliver and the box and squeezed a header past Gibson and into the corner of the net.

The Bully Wee’s response was almost immediate, as David Gormley’s diving header from Easton’s free-kick delivery went just wide of the near post.

As Clyde pushed for a winner, there were further chances for Linton – who found space after a clever set piece – and MacDonald – whose header was pushed onto the bar by Millar.

With 75 minutes on the clock, a fine team move produced a second Clyde goal. McNeil and Easton contributed in getting the ball to the edge of the box, MacDonald’s neat touch found substitute Matt Flynn in the box and he coolly found the bottom corner of the net.