Clyde v Montrose

Recap

A goal in each half earned Clyde an important win over Montrose at Broadwood this afternoon, closing the gap to the Angus side to six points.

Kevin Finlayson and Iain Gray replaced John Sweeney and the departed Nicki Paterson, as Jim Duffy made two changes to the side that faced Arbroath on Tuesday night.

It was the Bully Wee who started the match on top and loan signing Jamie McCluskey was again an attacking threat, coming close to scoring on two occasions. The second was particularly unlucky, with his 25-yard shot hitting the top of the bar with the away ‘keeper well beaten.

However, a goal did come and McCluskey was involved again. The winger hit a fizzing shot from just outside the box that Ramiro Gonzalez did well to tip onto the post, but that left John Stewart with the easy task of knocking the ball into the net from two yards and he duly obliged.

The goal seemed to spur Montrose into life and the rest of the half was more closely contested, but without any change to the scoreline.

The visitors continued to improve after the break and enjoyed a particularly strong period of pressure after the hour mark, mainly threatening Bryn Halliwell’s goal from corners. One of them resulted in Jonathan Crawford hitting the post with a header.

As the Gable Endies pressed they left gaps at the back and Marc McCusker found himself in on the ‘keeper, but his shot was saved. The points were made more secure with ten minutes left to play though, as sub Willie Sawyers got his second goal in as many matches. The big forward met a Kevin Finlayson cross to head the ball into the top corner.

Montrose came close to scoring one more time when Ross McCord forced Halliwell into a good block at the midfielder’s feet but the full-time whistle signalled a very welcome home win for the Bully Wee.